The Chief Minister, Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that they are expecting consensus with different political parties to settle the issue of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) and said that PPP is trying its best to table the bill in National Assembly with the co-ordination of other political parties.
This he said while talking to journalists at the residence of MNA Syed Ameer Ali Shah Jamote where he arrived to offer fateha on the sad demise of brother of Aijaz Ali Shah Jamote. The chief minister offered condolence with the Jamote family on the demise.
Responding a question about the protest against introduction of RGST by coalition partners in the government, he said that it was the opinion of every individual to oppose or agree with any policy, saying this was the beauty of democracy. He said that PPP government was enjoying good relations with the coalition partners and hopefully the matter of RGST would be resolved with co-ordination and mutual understanding. He said that Prime Minister of Pakistan has already made it clear that parliament was sovereign and it has taken decisions with cohesion and in national interest. He said that the matter of RGST would also be decided with the same spirit.
Responding about implementation on NFC Award, Qaim said it is related with RGST and collection of taxes on some items, which were yet to be decided and added that negotiations with federal government are going on in this regard. To another question, he said that there are few taxes, which may be collected by the centre but majority of taxes would be collected by provinces.
Responding to another question about share from divisional pool, Sindh Chief Minister said that they consider divisional pool as the main source of income, and have some reservations about its distribution such as receiving less share from divisional pool under the head of local government. However, he said that negotiations in this regard are going on and he made it clear that Sindh would get due share.
While responding about devolution of some federal subjects up to provincial level, the Sindh Chief Minister said that it was a part of constitution that the subjects included in the concurrent list be transferred to the Provincial governments. He said that this process of transferring these subjects from federal to provincial government has started from this month under the supervision of Senator Raza Rabani and it to be completed by the June next.