GUJRANWALA, April 20: Land grabbers have occupied a hockey ground and a greenbelt of the Government Iqbal High School on GT Road for the construction of a commercial plaza with the connivance of the district administration.

According to reports, some people want to construct a plaza on GT Road along the school and occupied about one acre land of the hockey ground and greenbelt of the school for this purpose.

Students use the ground for playing and commission agents of the grain market for buying wheat and paddy.

On Thursday, the citizens protested against the land grabbers and the district administration and demanded the highups to get the land vacated and hand it over to the school administration.

They demanded a stern action should be taken against the land grabbers and their supporters.

GCCI: The Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry has suggested the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) and the federal government through its budget proposals for 2006-07 fiscal year that all hurdles in the way of promotion of industry should be removed following giving relief to businessmen.

At a meeting held here on Thursday presided over by chamber president Akhlaq Ahmad, the participants demanded that self-assessment scheme should be implemented in its letter and spirit and tax culture be promoted by voluntary compliance.

They said the income tax returns should be finalised maximum by June 30 every year. The limit for payment of advance tax under section 137 should be enhanced to Rs500,000 and powers of CIT (appeal) to set aside the assessment order be restored. Assessees should be given right of revision petition before the zonal commissioner income tax.

The businessmen said withholding tax on all utility bills should be abolished and withholding tax on income be calculated on the value of goods excluding sales tax at custom stage. The sales tax of 15 per cent should be reduced.

They also suggested that only five per cent cases should be allowed for desk audit in future to facilitate importers. The customs duty on industrial raw material should be assessed at zero per cent to make locally manufactured goods more attractive.

LOOTED: Armed bandits looted an Urdu daily resident editor, his reporter and five constables in two different strikes here on Thursday.

Karam Gondal and reporter Ata Chohan were going to their office when two motorcyclists stopped them near the General Bus Stand. At pistol point, robbers deprived them of Rs25,000 in cash, mobile phones and other valuables.

Four bandits intercepted five constables on Radala Road and relieved them of their official rifles and cash.

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