Islamabad, January 05, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Wednesday said the mini-budget should not target the agriculture sector as it will hit farmers and masses while it will worsen the food security situation in the country which is already far from satisfactory. Raising taxes on agricultural inputs in the mini-budget will affect farmers, make food more expensive and worsen the food security situation therefore it should be reconsidered, it said.

Imposing taxes on agricultural inputs and commodities in the mini-budget will increase the cost of farming by five to ten per cent which will be passed on to the consumers, which will further aggravate the nutrition crisis in the country, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal President PEW.

In a statement issued here today, he said that the decision to increase the tax on flour mills is also wrong as it will be passed on to the consumers. He said that government measures would make seeds, cottonseed, cottonseed oil, maize, rice, sunflower, canola and vegetables more expensive and would also increase inflation in the country making life difficult for the majority.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that poultry will also become more expensive as maize become costly while maize exports will be affected. The government says that the mini-budget will not affect the average person, so it should be mentioned that if the poor do not use flour, milk, curd, spices, eggs, edible oil, meat and salt etc., then who uses it. The government has damaged the economy but every time it asks for sacrifice from the poor sparing the rich.

For more information, contact:
President,
Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW)
402, 4th Floor, Gulistan Khan House, Fazal-e-Haq Road,
82-East, Blue Area, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2510375
Fax: +92-51-2802449
Cell: +92-321-5157671
Email: president@pakistaneconomywatch.com
Web: www.pakistaneconomywatch.com