PAT asks government to withdraw increase in sales tax on POL products

Central PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has said that the people of Pakistan are in a fix whether to congratulate the Prime Minister on reducing prices of POL products or condemn him on ordering increase in GST. He said that there was no mention of the Prime Minister’s declaration to reduce prices of POL products that Federal Board of Revenue increased the sales tax rate. He said that jugglery resorted to by the Prime Minister and the FBR is worthy of condemnation.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that simultaneous reduction in prices of POL products and increase in sales tax is hypocrisy and a joke with the nation. He said that it is the second time that sales tax has been increased in a month. He said that the a raise from 17% to 22% in sales tax was given in the first phase which was again increased to 27% in the second phase, adding that it is an effort to rob the people of relief likely to accrue to them in the wake of reduction of prices of POL products. He said that the governments, the world over, are transferring the benefit of reduction in international oil prices of POL products, while the rulers of Pakistan are busy snatching relief from the people. He said that PAT demands of the government to withdraw illegal increase in rate of sales tax on POL products forthwith and bring prices of POL products at par with the international trend which comes down to reduction of Rs. 20 per liter.