September 26, 2018: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said that the issue of disparity in gas prices between the provinces has now been resolved by implementing uniform price across the country.

He affirmed this during his visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), where LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rasheed, Vice President Zeshan Khalil, Tariq Hameed, Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, Almas Hyder, Khawaja Shahzad Nasir, Fahim-ur-Rehman Saigol and Executive Committee Members also spoke on the occasion.

The governor said that uniform gas prices would be beneficial for the business community and help enhance exports. He said that partnership between the government and the business community is a must for progress and prosperity.

According to him, current exports and imports stand at $20 billion and $58 billion respectively, due to bad policies of the previous government. Exports of pharmaceutical came down to $200 million from $400 million.

He said that GSP Plus, undoubtedly a difficult task, was achieved successfully for the country. Under GSP Plus Status, the governor said, exports of textile to the Eurozone enhanced by 47 percent which added $ 3 billion to the exports figures.

However, benefits achieved from GSP Plus facility were far less than the potential.

Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that per hectare yield of cotton in Pakistan was 700 kg as compared to India and European countries where it was 2,000 kg per hectare. Likewise, fisheries exports of Pakistan were far less than India.

He cited that production of fisheries could be increased from one ton per acre to five ton. The promotion of fisheries production in rural areas could generate huge employment opportunities and discourage the trend of migration from rural to urban areas, he added.

The governor mentioned that smuggling was one of the biggest challenges that must be tackled with an iron hand as it was causing huge losses to the local industries and national exchequer.

He said that provision of clean water was one of the top priorities of the Punjab government, adding that the government had not sufficient funds for provision of clean water in entire Punjab, therefore, generous people should come forward and help the government in this regard.

LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rasheed said that withholding tax on banking transactions was unjustified and should be withdrawn immediately. He said that taxation system should be restructured because those 0.8 million people who were already in tax net, were being burdened. He said that rate of duties and taxes should also be reduced to encourage taxpaying.

He said the Punjab governor played a key role in winning GSP Plus Status for the country in 2013. Renewal of this status was a good omen for the country. He also called for reduction in electricity, gas and petroleum prices.

He further said that Canal Road should be re-commercialized in the larger interest of the business community.

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