Tax has been levied only on affluent segment:mujtab shuja

Lahore:Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has said that in the budget 2013-14 and tax has been levied only on affluent segments while there is also a proposal to impose tax on agriculture sector. He said that agriculture tax will be implemented in phases and provincial income will be increased due to reforms to be introduced in tax collection system. He said that property tax, motor vehicle tax and tax on services are the major sources of provincial income. He said that district governments will be given 239 billion rupees while solar energy operated tubewells will be given to the cultivators at a sum of 7.5 billion rupees will be spent for this purpose. He said that provincial government is also paying special attention to energy sector and a sum of more than 20 billion rupees will be utilized on development projects in this sector.  He said that education, health, energy and economic development are priorities of the provincial government and asked the international monetary institutions and donor agencies to extend cooperation in this regard.  He said that government is determined to steer the country out of energy crisis and a comprehensive strategy is being evolved for this purpose.