Tarin vows to introduce agriculture tax soon

LAHORE: Speaking at a post-budget seminar in Lahore on Wednesday, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Shaukat Tarin said he will make sure agriculture is taxed soon or he will quit as advisor.

Tarin also promised an end to the power crisis by December 2009 and said a committee will be formed to review budget proposals for the industry.

He said the government will utilise all water resources for power generation so that dependence on oil can be curtailed.

Tarin said the current account deficit has been brought down from eight per cent in 2007-08 to 5.45 per cent in 2008-09.

He said 1.20 billion rupees were being lost to smuggling in Afghan Transit Trade.

The finance advisor said the government wants to bring about institutional changes to stabilise the exchange rate and the economy. link...