April 8, 2003	Tuesday	Safar 5, 1424

QUETTA, April 7: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has announced that the government would revise taxes, power and gas tariffs in the coming budget to boost industrial sector.

Speaking to the leading businessmen and industrials of Balochistan at Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), on Monday, he said that the government would establish two more engineering and agriculture universities in the province with the financial assistance of Japan.

He said that Balochistan would have a fruit research institute with the facility of fruit processing plant in Ziarat for which Japanese government would also provide funds.

Referring to the difficulties being faced by the business community in paying taxes, the minister said that the government was working on a plan under which all the 21 tax collecting agencies would be merged and a new tax collecting authority would be introduced.

“This plan would be sent to the federal cabinet in next budget for approval,” Liaquat Jatoi said and added that the government wanted to give more facilities to the taxpayers and restore their confidence.

He said that until government would not revise gas and power tariffs, the foreign investors would not take interest in investing their capital in the country. He said that in view of business community’s demand the government would also consider revision of gas and power tariffs.

“Soon a comprehensive package would be announced in this regard,” he said and added that work was in progress in this respect.

He said that government was also considering reduction in duty on import of raw materials to facilitate industrial sector.

Referring to the sick and close industrial units, the minister said that many industrial units have been closed due to various reasons while the government wanted to revive all sick industries.

He asked the Balochistan’s businesses community and investors to come forward and set up industries in the province so the unemployment problem should be resolved. He said that the government was ready to provide maximum facilities in this regard.

Answering a question the minister said that the government has decided not to allow import of recondition cars. He said that with the import of re-condition cars, the government would also lose Rs15 billion revenue being paid by the automobile industry in tax account.