DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced complete exemption to about 17.1 million electricity consumers out of 30 million in country from paying their fuel adjustment charges (FAC) in electricity bills. As immediate relief measures for masses, he said that government had also notified rescinding of levy of fixed taxes on retailers and shopkeepers.

He expressed that these measures would provide immediate relief to masses.

Accompanied by members of his delegation during his two-day official visit to Qatar, he said that when they came into power, they had two targets to achieve.

Coalition government carried backlog of previous government which had left behind a trail of worst performance and economic decay and due to their pathetic policies, country was on verge of default, he said, adding, but due to untiring efforts of coalition government, that danger was over.  He said previous government’s poor performance had resulted in price hike of commodities, but his government continued its efforts day and night.

He regretted that during debate on passage of first fiscal budget, they had discussed issue of fixed tax on retailers and shopkeepers but practically, things went wrong which did not reflect reality.

Imposition of such taxes was against spirit of what they had discussed, he said, adding due to such measures, small shopkeepers had to face an extra burden of paying taxes. He clarified that it was neither purpose of government nor they had discussed such mechanism. A committee had been set up to fix responsibility on issue which would submit its report, he said, adding process would take some time. He said a notification was also issued regarding removal of fixed taxes of Rs 3000, 6000 and 10,000 on shopkeepers. He assured retailers and shopkeepers that they did not need to worry about and would not face problems, as government had controlled things. About second issue coalition government faced, he said fuel adjustment charge was interlinked with fluctuation of prices of oil in international markets, which were being adjusted in electricity bills. He said in months of July and August, consumers had to face high fuel adjustment charges.  He said Nawaz Sharif had issued a clear direction that such high costs were not acceptable. He said it was irony of fate that they had to consult with International Monetary Fund for everything due to an agreement of previous regime and but now they had negotiated relief successfully. About his visit to Qatar, he said it was their second home and he had arrived there to discuss different aspects of bilateral investment, trade and development projects for progress and prosperity of people of Pakistan.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 24 2022

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