Q opposes levying 2pc radio tax proposal

ISLAMABAD – The coalition as well as the leading opposition parties have opposed the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information to impose radio tax on people to pull out the Pakistan Radio from the financial crisis.

The central leader of PML-Q Imtiaz Ranjha while opposing the suggestion to impose radio tax on mobile recharge, termed it a cruel step and categorically stated that they reject the radio tax on mobile recharge and on vehicles. He said that PML-Q stands by the government for the welfare of the people of Pakistan but also reserves the right to criticise and point out the wrongdoings of the government. “It is not good to impose the radio tax on whole nation to improve the performance of Radio Pakistan as everyone does not use it,” he said while adding that the government should change its decision to pick-pocketing the poor people through radio tax.

He said that the government was already taking TV tax through electricity bills from the people while ignoring those who do not have television sets. He was of the view that there was not only PTV or Radio Pakistan in the country and the people now prefer to watch private TV channels.

He asked the government to take steps for the betterment of the people and avoid such policies that could further damage the already poverty ridden people of the country. He also stated that PML-Q would not accept any curb on media.

It is pertinent to mention here that the leading opposition party in the National Assembly, PML-N, has already opposed these recommendations while the opposition leader has also warned that they would not allow President Asif Zardari to address the National Assembly, if this tax was imposed.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting had suggested the government to impose 2 per cent on mobile recharge to collect almost Rs 4454.4 million per year for Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation.

The Nation