Cabinet approves RGST bill

ISLAMABAD: The cabinet in its meeting today accorded approval to the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) bill to be presented in the current session of the National Assemblym, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired the cabinet meeting. The coalition partners of the government had already expressed their reservations over the RGST and a hot debate was expected on the RGST issue in the National Assembly.

However, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ministers expressed reservations on the bill.

The decision to take up the RGST in the cabinet meeting and subsequently to introduce it in the National Assembly was taken during the meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) that was chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

In the CCI meeting, it was also decided that the provincial governments could subsequently present the RGST in their respective provincial assemblies after necessary consultation with the federal government, if needed.

Besides the RGST bill, the cabinet also discussed the issue of availability of sugar in the country focusing at implementing the CCI decision. The available stocks of 350,000 metric ton of sugar with TCP will be sent in the open market.