No aid needed with 15pc exports/tax to GDP ratio: Miftah

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail said on Saturday that if Pakistan boosts its rate of tax-to-GDP and exports-to-GDP up to 15 per cent, the government will not need to ask for aid from the world.

Talking to business community here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), he said that at present, there was 9.5 per cent tax-to-GDP ratio. Pakistan’s exports were US $31 billion while imports were US $80 billion. No country could afford such a large trade deficit, so we have to control unnecessary imports, he added.

Miftah Ismail said that government was ensuring provision of 100 per cent facilitation to export-oriented industry with an effort to enhance the country’s overall exports.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Asim Ahmad, LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir, Senior Vice President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan and Vice President Haris Ateeq, former office-bearers and executive committee members were also present, while State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad attended meeting through Zoom.

Finance Minister said that when the government came into power in April 2022, there was a serious threat of default as the foreign exchange reserves were US $10.5billion while US $36billions were required for debt repayments and other expenses so tough decision, based on ground realities, were needed to avert the default.

He said that no international financial institution was lending those countries that did not have three months’ foreign exchange reserves.

About the withdrawal of subsidies on petroleum products and power, he said, it was condition of IMF and was needed in order to bring Pakistan’s economy on the right track. He declared that the risk of Pakistan’s default had evaporated due to tough decisions such as an increase in energy prices and curtailment of imports, which slashed the demand for foreign exchange.

He said that at present, Rs7.5 per liter and Rs37.5 per liter taxes were imposed on diesel and petrol respectively.

Miftah said that unfortunately the industry could not grow at a pace, which was required added that the production of electricity doubled from 13,000MW to 25,000MW in 2013-2018, but industrial production did not grow enough to consume this energy and increase the exports of the country.

He said that per unit generation cost from Jamshoro power plant was Rs59 which reaches to Rs78 after transmitting to the consumers. Miftah said that the government had passed on just the cost of fuel and LNG to the consumers.

The finance minister directed the chairman FBR and governor SBP to look into the suggestions presented by the LCCI and create conducive environment for the businesses. He had asked the top men to hold meetings with the LCCI representatives.

Miftah Ismail said that the estimates of flood destruction were US $18.5 billion. He mentioned that 6,500 km of roads, 246 bridges, 1.7 million houses had been destroyed. One million animals died and 1,300 people lost their lives in the natural calamity. The entire cotton of Sindh had been destroyed which would have to be imported and two thirds of rice crop had also been destroyed.

He said that the government alone could not overcome such a huge loss due to deluge-floods and torrential rains in the country, therefore the rich and affluent people, especially the industrialists and businessmen particularly from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi and other major cities, would have to come forward for the help and support to the people affected by the floods.