19 February 2004	Thursday	27 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: The government is seriously considering withdrawing the exemption given to serving defence personnel from payment of toll tax on national highways/motorways, Minister of Communications Ahmed Ali told the Senate on Wednesday.

In a supplementary question on the issue of overall revenues collected from motorways and the expenditure incurred on their maintenance during the last five years, PPP's Farhatullah Babar pointed out that to increase the revenues it was necessary that all sections of society paid the toll tax.

However, he said, the defence personnel even travelling in private cars were exempted from payment of toll tax. Senator Babar said a few months ago he had moved a resolution on the issue in the Senate but the resolution was not brought before the House on the advice of the communication ministry and was declared inadmissible.

The minister said all sections of society must pay toll tax and that the matter was under consideration of the government. His reply was greeted with thumping of the desks by the senators.

Later, talking to journalists Senator Babar said it was important that the exemption was withdrawn as it was discriminatory in nature and bred resentment against defence personnel.

He said the defence personnel should not be viewed by the people as a class who regarded themselves above the law and practice. He said defence personnel themselves should volunteer to pay the toll tax and demonstrate practically that they were not above the ordinary citizens. He said no segment, not even the parliamentarians, should be exempted from payment of taxes.