RAWALPINDI, June 26: The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has criticized the Punjab government’s decisions to withdraw the subsidy on wheat and impose new taxes on various professions.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, RCCI acting president Hussain Ozgen called the Punjab budget contradictory to the federal budget.

He said the incentives offered in the federal budget would be sabotaged by imposition of new taxes in the Punjab budget.

Mr Ozgen criticized the extra Rs290 million taxes levied in Punjab. He said these taxes would burden businessmen and common taxpayers alike.

He resented the Punjab government’s decision to impose taxes on lawyers, members of stock exchanges, jewellers, departmental stores, printing presses and pesticides.

However, he hailed the decision to exempt widows from property tax.

He hailed the Punjab government’s intention to use its own resources to finance a chunk of its Annual Development Programme worth Rs12.98 billion.

The RCCI’s acting president and other members also expressed their profound shock and grief over the tragic death of former federal minister Omar Asghar Khan.

In a joint statement, RCCI group leader Mian Pervez Aslam, vice-president Rizwan Mohammad, executive members and former presidents prayed to Allah to grant strength to the parents and widow of the deceased to bear the loss and give eternal peace to the departed soul.