Increase in ST on petroleum products: LHC seeks reply from federal government by January 7

The Lahore High Court here on Friday sought reply from the federal government by January 07 in petitions challenging five per cent increase in sales tax on petroleum products. A bar member Ishtiaq Chaudhry and a trade leader Naeem Mir has assailed the increase in sales tax value from 17 to 22 per cent for being illegal.
The petitioner's counsel argued that the government was not giving due benefit to its citizens of decline in POL prices in international market. He said the government initially decreased the prices but increase the sales tax to keep its revenue generation intact. He said the increase in the sales tax through a SRO issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was in sheer violation of laws. The counsel asked the court to strike down the increase in the sales tax for being illegal.