By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has offered to collect additional taxes from Sindh if the provincial government is granted authority to levy sales tax on goods and services, promising a better share to the federation than the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro made the remarks during a press conference at the residence of former provincial minister Imtiaz Sheikh in Shikarpur on Saturday, after chairing a PPP Larkana division meeting. He highlighted that the Sindh Revenue Board currently collects over Rs 300 billion in sales tax from the province and asserted that Sindh could contribute even more if given the proper authority.
Khuhro emphasized that provinces should not be penalized for the FBR’s shortcomings and vowed that PPP would not allow any reduction in provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC). He reiterated the party’s historic opposition to attempts to roll back the 18th Amendment and stated that constitutional protections for provincial NFC shares will be fully upheld in the future.
He also addressed the allocation of NFC shares to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, insisting that any federal distribution should not come at the expense of provincial shares. Drawing a parallel with previous canal disputes, Khuhro said deductions from provincial NFC allocations would not be tolerated.
Commenting on federal legislative developments, he confirmed that the proposed 28th Amendment is off the table after the federal government admitted it would not proceed. He highlighted the creation of a Constitutional Court at the federal level to handle constitutional matters, with the Supreme Court focusing on other pending cases, while constitutional benches will also be established in Sindh following the passage of relevant bills in the provincial assembly.
Khuhro further acknowledged recent unrest in Sindh, attributing some incidents to cross-border criminal activity, and praised law enforcement agencies for taking measures to restore law and order, noting that the situation in the province has improved.
Looking ahead, he announced a major PPP rally at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on 27 December, to be addressed by President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Reaffirming the party’s priorities, Khuhro said PPP remains committed to protecting the 18th Amendment, defending provincial autonomy, rejecting talks of new provinces, and ensuring the continuation of democracy, with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari poised to play a central role in upcoming elections.
Under the leadership of Zardari and Bilawal, he added, PPP will continue to champion the supremacy of the constitution, uphold parliamentary law, and safeguard democratic governance across Pakistan.
