LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Agriculture Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024 notwithstanding boycott of proceedings by the PML-N government’s ally PPP and rejecting all seven amendments recommended by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf here on Thursday.

The bill, amending the 1997 law, omitted exemptions given on farm income, while also taxing income from the livestock sector.

In case of default in tax payment, Rs10,000 fine will be imposed on income less than Rs1.2 million, Rs20,000 on income less than Rs40m and Rs50,000 on income above R40m.

PPP parliamentary leader Ali Haider Gilani said that the PMLN-led government had not taken them on board over the bill.

“It seems that the government doesn’t need our votes and can get the bill passed from the house without the support of its allies and on the basis of its own strength. But the PPP won’t become a part of the bill.”

He regretted that the cabinet members were taking the house proceedings non-seriously as only one minister was present there.

The opposition PTI also criticised the government for imposing 15 per cent tax on farm income between Rs0.6 million and Rs1.2m per annum, arguing the levy would further hurt the farming community.

PTI parliamentary leader Ali Imtiaz Warraich said the farm tax rate would go up to 37pc as suggested in the tax slabs. He regretted that the farmers were already suffering losses as the Maryam Nawaz government refused to pick their wheat crop unlike the past practice, while prices of farm inputs as well as power and diesel tariffs were going through roof.

Rana Aftab claimed under the Constitution the agriculture sector cannot be taxed, and that the standing committee did not make as part of its report the amendments to the bill suggested by the PTI lawmakers and the dissenting note given by some members.

Finance and parliamentary affairs minister Mujtaba Shuja said that the agriculture sector was being brought under a new regime through the amendment bill and added that all the amendments suggested by the opposition had been rejected.

The house also passed an amendment to the Rules of Procedure allowing advisers to the chief minister to speak in the house.

Later, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan prorogued the house for an indefinite period on completion of the agenda.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2024