LAHORE, April 18: Punjab Revenue Minister Gul Hamid Khan Rokhari has said that only two per cent farmers are paying agriculture income tax in the province.

Talking to senior civil officers participating in advance study course at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) during their visit to the board of revenue offices here on Tuesday, the minister said 98 per cent farmers owned less than 12.5 acres and were exempt from tax under the law.

He said farmers owning more than 12.5 acres were being charged tax at a nominal rate. Tax was charged at the rate of Rs150 per acre from farmers owning up to 25 acres and Rs250 per acre for those owning larger tracts of land. The tax rate for irrigated orchards was Rs300 per acre and non-irrigated orchards only Rs100 per acre.

Member (agriculture income tax) Badrul Islam briefed the visiting officers regarding the tax collection system and procedures and also apprised them of problems and difficulties faced in the process.