Daily Times

LAHORE: Lawamker Dr Wasim Akhtar of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Tuesday challenged Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s claim of not collecting agriculture income tax (AIT) from agriculturists and said he would present documents to augment his claim in the next session of the assembly. During the session of the assembly on Tuesday, questions pertaining to the irrigation and forest departments were taken up which were answered by the minister and parliamentary secretary concerned, respectively. The House adopted all seven resolutions on the agenda of the day but only two were passed. A resolution from Dr Wasim Akhtar was also on the agenda in which he demanded concession in the AIT on small farmers having less than 12 and a half acre. Opposing this resolution, Rana Sanaullah clarified the House that no AIT was yet imposed in the province but the government was collecting revenue in the head of land based tax. Anyhow, he confirmed that the government had already constituted an Agriculture Commission to address the issue of AIT. He also ensured the House that the government would increase the slab of AIT up to Rs 0.4 million if the commission recommended so. However, Dr Wasim challenged the minister’s claim and said he would provide a proof in support of his claim in the next sitting.