Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said the government will continue consulting all stakeholders before making important monetary decisions. The minister said this in a meeting with a delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at the FBR Headquarters on Monday. The FPCCI delegation gave a detailed briefing on tax proposals for budget 2016-17, said a statement issued by Ministry of Finance on Monday. The minister assured the delegation that the proposals given by representatives of the FPCCI, business community, traders bodies and other stakeholders would be accorded due consideration. The meeting also had a review of the mechanism for tax refunds. Ishaq Dar stated the government is highly appreciative of the contribution of traders and business community towards strengthening of national economy. They should keep playing their due role in revenue generation and promotion of tax culture, he added. The minister said that with continued efforts rate of revenue growth has risen to 19.7 percent under the present government while it ranged between 2.5 to 3.0 percent before it assumed responsibilities. The government shall keep up its efforts for consolidation of the economic gains it has made and focus on economic growth, he said. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Division Haroon Akhtar, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and FBR attended the meeting. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said there were good opportunities for Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to come to the fore and have its share of investment in Pakistan. The minister said this while meeting with a delegation of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) led by Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Ali Thani, the acting head of Business Development Department of QIA on Monday. The minister briefed the delegation about investment opportunities in Pakistan and shared with them details of various options that the QIA could follow to forge cooperation with the government of Pakistan for undertaking investment, said a statement issued by Finance Ministry. The minister said that Pakistan has recently entered into an agreement with Qatar for import of LNG. He also mentioned about the 3,600 MW LNG-based projects where general electric is supplying necessary equipment. The minister also added that Saudi investors have plans in taking up projects in the field of petrochemicals and oil refineries. Leader of the Qatar delegation Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Ali Thani said QIA would consider the different options available for making investment in Pakistan. He said the brotherly ties between Pakistan and Qatar serve as a good foundation for developing such cooperation.