Not mulling over any new tax amnesty scheme: Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar on Thursday said the government was not considering introducing any new tax amnesty scheme.

Speaking to journalists about the government's economic policies during a session on ‘Breakfast with Jang’ in Islamabad, the finance minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s administration is committed to ensuring good governance and eradicating corruption from the society.

Umar said Prime Minister Imran is showing zero tolerance for corruption and has given clear directions to all his cabinet members to work on strengthening institutions and eliminating the menace of corruption from the country.

He said no society could progress without rooting out corruption. “The public asks me [all the time] when will the thieves be caught,” he told reporters.

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“Justice demands that if a pickpocketer is to be punished, then so should looters be punished,” the minister added.

He alleged that the previous government had destroyed the economy.

Regarding the ongoing prevailing gas shortfall in the country, the finance Umar said the shortage in the supply of gas is due to operational issues.

"Supply of gas to export-oriented industries has not stopped. There has been a delay in other industries," the finance minister clarified.

He continued, "Prime minister called for a meeting and said that gas will be supplied to other industries. Factories in Punjab will be provided with $6.5 per MMBTU gas."

Any additional amount will be paid by the treasury department directly to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, Umar added.