Nobody be allow to cause necessary harassment to traders community:Rather

 Srinagar, February 06 (Scoop News) – The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Ab Rahim Rather today said Government was keen to promote relation with trade and Industry in the large interest of the state adding that nobody would be allowed to cause necessary harassment  or disparate to the traders community. He said every possible effort will be made to develope Industrial Cultural to give inputs to the state economy and growth.

            “with this motive, the commercial taxes department has been fully computerised to enable traders and dealers for direct registration, payments without any interface with the field officers Mr Rather said speaking at the pre-budget discussion  held at Banquet Hall, Srinagar today with the representatives of federation chamber of Industries  Kashmir FCIK and pharma Industry today. He said Industrialization is key to economic self reliance.

            Interacting with a delegation of Federation Chamber of Industries, Kashmir, the consecutive 2ndday today  Rather observed that holding of pre-Budget discussion with cross section of people especially trade and industry proves very fruitful as it serves twin purpose of having insight  in to the view point of the stoke holders ,their general feedings and problems ,Mr Rather said the basic objective behind pre-Budget exercise was to involve people in formulating  a people friendly vision budget for better growth, well being and all round development of the people of state. He said useful and beneficial suggestion at the pre –Budget session would be considered on merit while preparing the New Year’s annual budget.

            The FCIK while initiating the pre-budget discussions at the outset appreciated the government for taking some landmark initiatives during the current fiscal on the suggestions of the FCIK, which included starting construction of Rattle Power Project, passing of the act for levying water usage charges on different uses particularly Hydro-electric power project owners, computerization of commercial taxes department. These initiatives are expected to bring a positive vibration and change in various segments of economy and development. The FCIK called for special emphasis on areas like infrastructure, Communication, Connectivity, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Social and agriculture sector. Besides, the financial discipline and proper utilization of assets by government departments shall have to be maintained in order to save wastage of public money, it was asserted. The FCIK also put forth some proposals and suggestions for over all resource mobilization and revenue generation.

            Acting president FCIK,  Afaq Qadri, while presenting suggestions for resource mobilization, urged for transfer of power projects of Salal, Dulhasti and Uri to the state, overhauling of power distribution infrastructure to minimize the transmission and distribution loss, minimizing forest and mineral losses, creating of Lapse Fund Account for Kashmir valley as the funds for various development works are approved/released at the fag end of the fiscal year and are bound to get lapsed due to adverse climatic conditions during winter period. He also pleaded to formulate a separate industrial policy exclusively for backward districts of the state. They also suggested creation of revolving fund in SICOP which could be used in the cases where payments to units from departments get inordinately delayed, besides making electric blankets tax free to give boost to this industry.

            The Kashmir traders and manufacturers Federation, Kashmir also met the finance minister and sought a concrete trade policy. They also demanded posting of more funds in the appealent Authority of the commercial taxes department. They also suggested regularization of all housing colonies and illegal power connection to fetch revenue. They also called for a single window system for clearing building permission cases in Srinagar Municipal Corporation besides privatization of the construction of Mini power station. Simplify VAT regime, and constitution of joint committee of commercial taxes and traders association for timely solution of the traders are some other suggestion put forth by the KTMF. They suggested that multinational companies should necessarily open their C & F in Srinagar to provide job avenues for the unemployed youth.

            The state government was represented by the excise commissioner,  G. A. Peer, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Khawaja Bashir Ahmad, Commissioner Finance, Commercial Taxes Department,  Mushtaq Ahmad Qazmi, concerned senior officer where as member of the FCIK included Joint Secretary, Owees Q. Jamie, Publicity Secretary, Abid Ali, Raiz Ahmad Panjra (Cement Industry), Manzoor Ahmad Qadri (Electric Blanket Industry), Syed Mumtaz Ahmad (I/E Rangreth, Haji Mohd Ashraf Khan (I/E Barzulla), Mohd Yousuf (I/E Ganderbal), Gh Mohmad Bhat (I/E Zakura) Sajad Ahmad (I/E Khanmoh) etc.

            The pharma industry was representd by Chairman Chemists and Distributors Association  M. A. Pukhta , Mr Abdul Rafia, Zulfikar Ahmad, Khurshid Ahmad, Allaudin Bhat and Shabir Ahmad.

            The 10 member delegation of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Srinagar was led by its adhoc president,  Nazim-ud-din Wadera.

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