KARACHI: The Sindh government has demanded refund of Rs9.831 billion which the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) deducted from the Provincial Consolidated Fund (PCF), carrying withholding tax and sales tax.

The demand was made by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah while presiding over a meeting at the CM House here on Monday to review the deductions made by the FBR.

The minister for excise and taxation, and senior officers of the finance department were present in the meeting.

Mr Shah said the Sindh government had taken up the matter in the Council of Common Interests meeting and they have decided to write a letter to the prime minister requesting him to direct the ministry of finance to refund the amount to the Sindh government.

CM tells delegation third bridge on Indus being built at Kandhkot-Ghotki

“The FBR has been involved in the practice of taking away our revenue for the past few years,” he said.

Quoting Article 119 of the Constitution, the chief minister said the custody of the PCF and the authority to withdraw money from it rested with the provincial government.

He added that arbitrary withdrawal of money from the PCF by the FBR was a clear violation of the Constitution.

Land of Sufis

While meeting with a delegation from the Command and Staff College, Quetta, the chief minister said Sindh was the land of Sufis, therefore, the inhabitants believed in the philosophy of coexistence and mutual respect.

“Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast and Lal Shahbaz Qalandar are the great names who preached love and peace,” he said.

“During the era of Gen Zia, sectarian and ethnic divide was created, and the country had to pay a heavy price for becoming a party to the Afghan war,” he further said.

“The law and order in the entire province, including Karachi, was precarious about a few years ago. Different gangs, terrorists and outlaws were challenging the state. Kidnappings for ransom, targeted killings, extortion and terrorism were on the rise, which were destroying the socio-economic fabric of society.

“The law enforcement agencies worked day in and day out to restore peace in the entire province,” he added.

Mr Shah briefed the visiting officers about the efforts of his government in health and education sectors and the measures taken for alleviation of poverty, improving policing system and developing infrastructure.

“Sindh is the only province in the country which has constructed two bridges on the Indus River,” he said and added that the third one would be constructed at Kandhkot-Ghotki.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2018