Abolition of tax on construction under consideration: Firdous

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Thursday said that chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority has informed the Prime Minister that tax levied on construction would be abolished, for which the matter is under consideration for approval with the provinces.

She, while talking to the media, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan, while terming housing sector a priority for his government, said that promotion of this area would not only boost 40 related industries, but also ensure provision of job opportunities to youth and skilled labour.

Awan said the Prime Minister directed the provincial governments to work out on reduction in taxes to promote the housing and construction sector.

She said the prime minister was told that steps are under way to reduce the rate of Capital Value Tax and issuance of E-stamp papers to facilitate people related to housing and construction sector.

About ease-of-doing-business in housing, the prime minister was apprised that an online portal by the provincial governments would be launched which will link up the government departments relevant to housing sector, she said, adding the step will save the businessmen and traders from visiting different offices to receive no objection certificates.

Awan said that availability of internet would be ensured in every nook and corner of the country under the 'Digital Pakistan' launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"The Prime Minister has laid the foundation of a new digital Pakistan, which will be equipped with the latest technology to meet the pace of development in the world," she said.

Under the new "Digital Pakistan," she said five parameters have been determined as per the vision of the Prime Minister which would help ensure increased "access and connectivity" between the public and the government.

She said the chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority gave a briefing to Prime Minister Imran Khan on steps taken in connection with implementation of the project and informed him that tax levied on construction phase would be abolished, for which the matter was under consideration for approval by the provinces.

She said that there are 22 industries associated with the construction business and this will open up avenues for the youth to get employment. She said that the government is planning to either privatize government-owned rest houses or lend them on lease, while promoting tourism. However, there is another option which is public-private partnership to generate money under this sector.

She said that Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfiqar Bukhari has assured that he would bring the business of tourism to Pakistan by highlighting it in the G8 countries conference and the countries will be invited to Pakistan which will not only promote tourism but will also help mobilize multiple associating businesses.

She said that the government is committed to improving governance with the help of digital technologies to become part of digital revolution.

Dr Firdous said that the country's economy is now increasingly linked to digitalization and the government is focusing on raising awareness and training the youth in new skills as per the digital age. She said that this will help empower and strengthen the future generation.

She said that digitalization would ease the lives of people, while access and connectivity would become efficient and effective.

She said once the government will be taken on digitalization, loopholes and issues regarding paper/files maneuvering and lost would be resolved.

She said that out of 25,000 young IT students, only 6,000 get jobs. The government is determined to utilize the skills of the students and develop them in order to participate in digital Pakistan.