RGST to trigger prices of farm related products

RGST to trigger prices of farm related products
As the government seems all set to get the Reformed General Sales Tax (GST) passed by the Parliament, the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Food and Agriculture has expressed its grave concern as this tax would be imposed on 500 food items thus badly affecting the agriculture sector’s growth.

In this connection, the Committee has decided to summon the representatives of Finance Ministry in the next meeting to be held on December 11 to have comprehensive briefing on the issue.

According to the plan, the RGST would be implemented on more or less 500 items relating to the agriculture.

“If this tax was imposed, the agriculture sector would be badly affected,” commented Aftab Sherpao, a member of the committee, during the meeting. He said that RGST would be imposed on fertilizers, tractors, pesticides and others items and small farmer would be badly affected by this levy.

It is to be mentioned that the last months torrential rains and flash floods have played havoc especially with the agriculture sector shooting up the prices of vegetables and other crops including wheat, cotton and sugarcane.
"We should encourage and provide maximum incentives to small farmers instead of creating hardships for them," Sherpao said. While discussing the status of the PARC Chairman, the members demanded of Prime Minister to resolve this matter immediately as the council is an important institution and it should not be harmed due to any dispute.