Pakistan Muslim League (N) has rejected President Asif Zardari's request for support of the controversial RGST Bill 2010 which has been unanimously opposed by the major political parties and the business community across the country.
It may be added that the President, in his letter to PML (N) Quaid Mohammad Nawaz Sharif had sought co-operation of the PML-N in the adoption of RGST Bill 2010 reminding him that his Party's nominee Mr Ishaq Dar former Finance Minister along with all the senators of all major political parties had unanimously recommended the RGST law with some 15 amendments.
Responding to the President's offer of co-operation and friendship, PML (N) Central Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said " his party will never support the RGST bill 2010 in the National Assembly as it would ruin the national economy and make life of the common man unbearable with additional taxes"
He said we have informed the government that by levying the RGST it is likely to generate additional revenue of Rs 165 billion, whereas by restructuring the Public Sector Enterprises comprehensively and ending corruption in collection of taxes, the government can easily earn more than Rs 500 billion, so there is no need of RGST.
With regard to the President's offer to reconsider the proposed Ehtisab Bill, Ahsan said PML (N) has already sent its proposals to the concerned NA Standing Committee to make the accountability process credible and transparent, therefore it was for the government to incorporate them in the bill.
Ahsan alleged that instead of restructuring the PSEs to make them financially viable and lessen the burden on the national exchequer, the government is appointing its Jialas and party workers in these corporations like Pakistan steel mills, Pakistan Railways, PIA, TCP and Utility stores and paying them salaries and allowances for past twelve years to further burden the national exchequer.
Business Community of Lahore says that since all the major parties in the Parliament including PML (N), PML (Q), MQM, JUI (F), ANP have already declared their opposition to the RGST, PPP is now not in a position to get passage of the RGST bill, therefore the levy of RGST is a closed chapter.