LAHORE: Former Federal Finance Minister Dr. Hafiz A. Pasha ne kaha hai ke large-scale manufacturing sector par lagne wale bohot zyada taxes (lagbhag 60% of total collection) Pakistan ke exports ko affect kar rahe hain.
Dr. Pasha yeh baat Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) mein business community se mulaqat ke doran keh rahe the. Is mauqe par LCCI ke President Faheemur Rehman Saigol, Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President Khurram Lodhi, EC member Firdous Nasar aur former EC member Mian Muhammad Nawaz bhi maujood the.
Unhone highlight kiya ke Pakistan ke kai sectors, jaise ke agriculture, high income potential rakhte hain, lekin in se tax revenue bohot kam milta hai. Sirf 1% landowners ke paas 22% best agricultural land hai, magar agriculture se estimated revenue sirf Rs 4 billion hai, jo manufacturing sector ke Rs 4,500 billion ke mukable mein bohot kam hai.
Dr. Pasha ne ye bhi kaha ke aaj investment large-scale manufacturing sector mein 25 saal pehle ke muqable bohot kam hai. Sab se badi concern yeh hai ke depreciating capital stock replace nahi ho raha, jo sector ki sustainable growth ko affect kar raha hai.
LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol ne kaha ke Pakistan apni economic potential ka proper faida nahi utha raha. China aur India ne 1960s ka economic model follow kiya aur growth achieve ki, jab ke Pakistan peeche reh gaya. Unhone ye bhi point out kiya ke mulk ne ab tak SME zones establish nahi kiye, jab ke developed countries ne SMEs ko apni growth ka backbone banaya. Har saal millions of young graduates market mein enter karte hain lekin unemployment ka samna karte hain. Skills provide karke aur unhe abroad bhejne se remittances ko significantly barhaya ja sakta hai.
Dr. Pasha ne stress kiya ke export sector aur large-scale manufacturing Pakistan ki economy ki backbone hain, jab ke real estate – ek non-productive sector – abhi bhi sab se zyada investment attract kar raha hai. Property se revenue collection sirf 0.2% hai, jo industrial sector ke mukable 12 times kam hai.
Unhone yeh bhi bataya ke Pakistan mein 2.1 million unemployed youth, 2.6 million bachay school se bahar, aur 22% workforce without employment hai. Sirf 6% bank credit small units ke liye available hai, jab ke 80% public sector ko banks provide kar rahi hain.
