LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Pakistan Solar Association have called upon the government to withdraw tax on solar equipment. LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir, Senior Vice President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan, acting Chairman of Pakistan Solar Association M Farhan, Senior Vice Chairman Waqas Moosa, members of the association Amir Chaudhry, Ali Rafiq and others demanded this while addressing a press conference on Friday. They said the solar and wind power plants are the only alternative solution against the rising prices of electricity, gas and petrol and the increasing environmental pollution in the country. They said that the fossil fuel based power plants require costly imported diesel and oil while the installation of solar systems requires a one-time investment which provides continuous benefits for more than 25 years without additional expenses. TLTP
They said that on January 13, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, in his speech on Supplementary Finance Bill 2021-22, announced that the proposal of tax on solar equipment has been removed. But on January 17th, while submitting import GDs on the FBR portal for customs clearance, it was discovered by various importers that the sales tax exemption was eliminated and tax was imposed on solar equipment.
They said that the imposition of a 17 percent tax on solar energy equipment will ruin the efforts for the promotion of alternative energy sources in the country. They said that the Finance Minister announces tax exemption on solar equipment while the tax has been imposed which means that his credibility is being challenged.
They said there is a dire need for the promotion of alternative energy sources to control the high import bill. He said that the solar equipment is imported one time and generates energy for the life of the equipment while on the other hand, the import of oil has to be imported on a regular basis to produce electricity through thermal means.
The participants of the press conference were of the view that the developed countries of the world are producing policies to facilitate the solar industry while in Pakistan, new taxes are being imposed on this sector that will have deadly economic impacts.
They urged the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin to review the decision to levy sales tax on solar equipment in the long-term and wider interest of the country.
