ISLAMABAD, June 7: President Gen Pervez Musharraf promulgated on Friday the Sales Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2002, further amending the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

The Ordinance will come into force at once.

The following is the text of the Ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO. XXV OF 2002.

ANORDINANCE further to amend the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Sales Tax Act, 1990, for the purposes hereinafter appearing;

AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action.

NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of Emergency of the Fourteenth day of October, 1999, and the Provisional Constitution Order No. 1 of 1999, read with the Provisional Constitution (Amendment) Order No. 9 of 1999, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:

1. Short title and commencement. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Sales Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002. (2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 6, Sales Tax Act, 1990. In the Sales Tax Act, 1990, in section 6, after sub-section (I), the following new sub-section shall be inserted and shall be deemed to have always been so inserted, namely:

“(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, including but not limited to the Protection of Economic Reforms Act, 1992 (XII of 1992), and notwithstanding any decision or judgement of any forum, authority or court whether passed, before or after the promulgation of the Finance Act, 1998 (III of 1998), the provisions of section 31-A of the Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969), referred to in sub-section (1) shall be incorporated in and shall be deemed to have always been so incorporated in this Act and no person shall be entitled to any exemption from or adjustment of or refund of tax on account of the absence of such a provision in this Act, or in consequence of any decision or judgement of any forum, authority or court passed on that ground or on the basis of the doctrine of promissory estoppel or on account of any promise or commitment made or understanding given whether in writing or otherwise, by any government department or authority.”.—APP