Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza on Saturday said the government was seeking consensus in the legislative body to reach a firm agreement over making Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) Bill a law. Talking to journalists after attending the 63rd death anniversary function of Dr Sir Ziauddin Ahmad at the auditorium of Ziauddin University, she said the country's economy needed support through taxation.
She said the weak revenue collection system always forced the country to resort to borrowing from the global financial institutions, adding that the government was committed to underpinning the economy by taxing the rich and feed the poor. Enforcement of the RGST is primarily aimed at documenting the country's economy, she said citing the finance minister's argument.
She said the country had faced with a gigantic challenge of floods that ravaged the country infrastructure and economy, besides affecting millions of people in their wake, adding RGST would help economy attain its strength. Earlier, addressing the students and faculty members of Ziauddin University as chief guest, she paid rich tributes to Dr Sir Ziauddin Ahmad for his role towards the uplift of Indian Muslims particularly in the field of education, besides struggle towards creation of Pakistan.
She added, "Sir Ziauddin Ahmad fought the greatest battles for human freedom in the minds of men through educating a large number of Muslims in South Asia without fear of consequences in a very hostile, environment." Chancellor Ziauddin University, Dr Asim Hussain also paid homage to Sir Ziauddin while presenting the annual report. He said Sir Ziauddin had served as an educationist in the sub-continent and hoped his legacy of spirit would help Pakistan attain its glory.
He also paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto for her vision to help private sector of the country undertake projects in the fields of medicine, saying her support eventually yielded the fruit in shape of Ziauddin University. He also highlighted the annual performance of Ziauddin Hospital and the university.
"Ziauddin Hospital in a short span of time has grown in size from a maternity home in Nazimabad to a teaching university hospital with five campuses catering for the middle class population of Karachi," Asim said. Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq said Sir Ziauddin was the first to set up academic institutions in Sindh during British rule in South Asia.
He said Sindhi Muslims had to go to Aligarh or Bombay for attaining education, as a result, there had been no one in the province to serve the Sindh University as a vice chancellor. He also highlighted the life and achievements of Sir Ziauddin and paid tribute to him for his services particularly in the field of education. President Ziauddin Memorial Society, Professor Viqar Uddin Ahmed in his address of welcome highlighted Sir Ziauddin's role in the creation of Pakistan.
He said Ziauddin was a mathematician with command of physics, and was aware of several languages including Persian, French, English and Urdu, etc. He said, "Ziauddin was a genius student and an excellent teacher." He has to his credit a book "History of Education," Professor Viqar said.
In 1945-46, he said, Sir Ziauddin had played a pivotal role in winning the elections and creation of Pakistan. Member Governing Body Ziauddin University, Sharifuddin Pirzada, Chancellor Sir Syed University of Science and Technology Z A Nizami, Chairman State Life Insurance Corporation, Shahid Aziz Siddique and Chairman Overseas MAS Mubarak Shah Zuberi also highlighted the life and achievements of Sir Ziauddin Ahmad. Students also expressed their views and paid homage to Sir Ziauddin Ahmad for his services.