CPEC to enhance Balochistan govt’s tax collection: Provincial Finance Minister
China Economic Net
Quetta: Finance Minister of Balochistan province Sardar Abdur Rehman Khaitran has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects will enhance the provincial government’s tax collection.
Speaking at a post-budget news conference here, the minister predicted that the CPEC projects and development of mining sectors would increase tax and non tax revenue of the province in the future.
“CPEC will multiply tax collection. Billions of rupees have been allocated for plenty of mega projects to be initiated in Balochistan. The businesses (as a result of the investments) will provide tax,” he maintained.
He added: “These include Nag to Washuk road project, construction of small and medium dams, water solar schemes, highway security projects, provision of laptops and internship to students and dams and roads for south Balochistan.”
To a question, the minister mentioned that the government accorded priority to the education, employment and health sectors as 1.8 million families will be provided health cards facility.
“A total of 8000 people mainly from Chaghi and Taftan areas of Balochistan will be given employment opportunities as agreed upon by the mining company in the Reko Diq project,” he contended.
Khaitran underscored that the government took serious steps for resolving the Reko Diq investment dispute and tried to bring the maximum possible benefit for the province along with foreign direct investments which in addition to bringing vast economic resources will bring employment opportunities.
He claimed that the far-reaching policies of the provincial government helped reduce the budget deficit of the fiscal year 2022-23.
“FY (Financial Year) budget 2021-22 was approved with (Pakistani) Rs 87 billion deficit while current year the deficit was Rs 72 billion, 15 billion less than the previous year,” he informed.
Highlighting the salient features of the FY2022-23 budget, the finance minister said that first time in the history, distribution of resources were made on merit and without any discrimination.
