Punjab Cabinet approves budget 2015-16,rejects tax on Internet

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Provincial Cabinet here today in which budget proposals for the fiscal year 2015-16 were approved.

Monetary bill 2015 and revised estimates for the fiscal year 2014-15 were also approved in the meeting. The cabinet also approved supplementary budget for financial year 2014-15 .The cabinet unanimously rejected the proposal of imposition of sales tax on internet services.

Addressing the meeting of provincial cabinet, the Chief Minister said that the budget for the financial year 2015-16 will play an important role in the progress and prosperity of the people of the province while a new era of development will begin. He said that the government believes in equal development of urban and rural areas and splendid programmes have been evolved in the new budget for the development of rural areas during next three years.

He said that work is being carried out on a big programme of repair and rehabilitation of rural roads and a huge sum of 150 billion rupees will be spent on this programme during three years. He said that this historic programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural areas will revolutionize rural economy. He said that a big programme of progress and prosperity of rural areas has been started in the history of Pakistan and the credit for projects of billions of rupees for the uplift of rural areas goes to Pakistan Muslim League-N government.

He said special attention has been paid in the new budget to energy projects, Saaf Pani project and development of education and health sectors. He said that work is being carried out speedily on power projects for resolving energy crisis and a number of energy projects will start production by the end of 2017. He said that new provincial budget will also make up the losses of the industrial, economic and agriculture sectors due to energy crisis during the last 15 years and this budget is different from the last budget as equal attention has been paid to development of urban and rural areas.

He said that development projects of billions of rupees will be completed on priority basis for the development of rural areas. He said that peace is necessary for the progress as well as promotion of economic, trade, industrial and social activities. He said that special projects are being started in the new budget for further improvement of law & order situation in the province.

The Chief Minister said that the new budget will result in progress of the province, strengthening of economy, welfare of the masses and development of all areas.

The Chief Minister rejected the proposal of imposition of sales tax on internet services and said that future of the country is linked with information technology. He said that development targets can be achieved through use of modern technology therefore, information technology is being promoted on solid basis and it is being utilized in every sector. He said that imposition of tax on internet services is not proper therefore this proposal has been rejected unanimously by all members of the cabinet.

The Chief Minister appreciated the efficiency of provincial ministers, especially Finance Minister, political colleagues, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development Secretary Finance and other concerned officers and staff and said that the political and administrative teams should be congratulated on working day and night for the preparation of budget.

The meeting was also given a briefing on the provincial budget.