Imran Khan asks Pakistanis to declare their assets by Jun 30
Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday asked Pakistanis to take advantage of the tax amnesty scheme and declare their undisclosed assets by June 30 to contribute in the development of the country which is grappling with a severe financial crunch.
Addressing the nation ahead of the federal budget for fiscal year 2019-20 to be announced Tuesday, Khan said. "We will need to change ourselves if we want to become a great country."
"I am appealing to all of you to take part in the Asset Declaration Scheme that we have brought, because if we don't pay taxes, we will not be able to raise our country up," Khan said.
The premier said that people have until June 30 to declare their benami assets, benami bank accounts and money that was kept abroad.
Benami is a term used for a transaction, contract, or property that is made or held under a name that is fictitious or is that of a third party who holds as ostensible owner for the principal or beneficial owner.
"After June 30, you will not get this opportunity," he said. "Our agencies have information about who has benami accounts and benami properties," the premier said.
"This was never available to us before therefore take advantage of this scheme. Give Pakistan the benefit. Fix your children's future. [Give us] the chance that we get this country to stand on its own two feet and take people out of poverty," he said.
"My Pakistanis, in the past ten years Pakistan's debt went from Rs 6,000 billion to Rs 30,000 billion," he said.
Khan said that the damage that this had caused to the country was that the annual tax collected was approximately Rs 4,000 billion, half of which went towards repaying loans "they" had taken.
"This country cannot cover its expenses on the money that is left behind," he added.
"Pakistan is the country that unfortunately gives the least tax in the world but is among the few countries that give the most charity."
"This is the country that has [the] capability and if passion comes in, we can at the very least gather Rs10,000 billion every year," the premier said.
In May, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had announced its first tax amnesty scheme Asset Declaration Scheme for whitening of undisclosed expenditures, sales and assets, including foreign assets, at nominal tax rates.
The scheme came into effect through a presidential ordinance, which will offer a period of 45 days to people for declaration of their undeclared assets, expenditures, and sales along with payment of taxes until June 30 this year.
The scheme, approved by the federal Cabinet during a meeting presided over by the premier, has five main pillars scope, default surcharge, exclusions, tax rates and conditions.
Unlike the past schemes, no revenue realisation projection was made on the plea that it is meant for allowing the grey economy's inclusion in the tax net, Dawn newspaper said.
The government plans to present an austerity-oriented budget with no increase in the salaries of army officials of higher ranks.
This is the second time that the premier has appealed to the people to declare their benami assets and bank accounts under the government's Assets Declaration Scheme by June 30.
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BESCOM to organise EV expo for Secretariat employees in Jan 2025
Bengaluru (PTI): To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) announced on Friday that a special EV fair will be organised for the Secretariat employees in January 2025.
During a meeting at the BESCOM office, Managing Director Mahantesh Bilagi said, "The fair is being organised following a directive of Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and will be conducted under the supervision of Energy Minister K J George and Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Gaurav Gupta."
According to him, the event aims to educate attendees about the benefits of environmentally friendly EVs and to encourage the adoption of two-wheeled EVs.
"During the fair, dealer discounts to government employees, particularly those in the Secretariat will also be offered. There will also be opportunities for practical demonstrations of the vehicles at the exhibition site," added Bilagi.
He said the Secretariat employees will also benefit from no down payment and low-interest loans to purchase the EV vehicles.
"EV companies are eager to participate and the sales will extend beyond the exhibition, continuing in the future," the Managing Director said.
The state, particularly Bengaluru, has the highest electric vehicle (EV) users, said Bilagi, adding that to support this, the Energy Department has provided essential infrastructure.
"BESCOM's efforts in promoting EV usage have been recognised with the 'Charge India 2024 Excellence' award. This award is a testament to our commitment to establishing excellent charging facilities. Karnataka has the country's most public electric vehicle charging stations, with a total of 5,765 stations, of which 4,462 are located in the Bengaluru Urban district," said Bilagi.
The Secretariat Employees' Association president Ramesh Sanga and other office-bearers, BESCOM Technical Director H J Ramesh as well as senior officials attended the meeting.
