Islamabad: Chief of main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif reiterated on Saturday his party would not support a move to levy a reformed general sales tax (RGST), which the government says is vital for expanding the tax net to boost revenues and shore up the sagging economy.
In an address to a public gathering in the city of Sheikhupura in Punjab province, the former prime minister said RGST would put an unbearable burden on the masses already groaning under high inflation.
He advised the federal ruling coalition headed by the Pakistan People's Party to focus on combating corruption and restructuring of state corporations causing huge losses to the national exchequer, instead of increasing the burden on the people. The PML-N chief said revolutionary vision and good governance was needed to put the country on the right track. A government team led by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh travelled Friday to Raiwind estate of the former prime minister and met him and his brother Shahbaz, chief minister of Punjab, in a bid to win support for RGST.
Media reports said the team tried to convince the PML-N leadership that the new tax was needed in the present poor economic situation and also to qualify for the next tranche of IMF loan.
