The Election Commission of Pakistan is likely to receive 10 million Euro from the European Union for holding free, fair and transparent elections. In a written reply to a question, Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs and Statistics, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheik, told the Lower House on Monday that the total amount was 10 million Euro to be provided by the EU to Pakistan for transparent general elections. The proposed utilisation of the said amount is to assist Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and increase awareness regarding electoral laws.
Member National Assembly (MNA), Nisar Tanveer during the question hour asked the Minister for Finance to explain about the year wise taxes/duties collected from the petroleum sector during last four years to date along with the ratio of collection in overall GDP of the country. Sheik stated in the written reply that the government had collected Rs 490,223 million tax/duties during the fiscal year 2011-12 with GDP ratio of 2.37. However, the government has not imposed exclusive duty/taxes at the import stage, expect petroleum development levy (PDL) levied vide petroleum products ordinance 1961. The amount collected under the head of PDL in fiscal year 2011-12 is Rs 34,149.2 million. As such the concerned Ministry may be asked for any further details and justification.
To a question about growth rate of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) at present and the step taken by the government to increase the GDP rate during last four years till date, Khawja Sheraz Mehmood, Minister of State, told the house that the GDP growth for the fiscal year 2011-12 was 3.7 which is the same at present. He maintained that the GDP has not decreased during last four years rather Pakistan economy is in the process of revival since 2008-09, when it touched the lowest GDP growth rate of 1.7 percent.
Full Article: Free, fair, transparent elections: ECP to receive 10 million euro from EU, National Assembly told | Business Recorder.
