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| | GEO Business | | CMs, finance team meeting to finalize VAT issue: Gilani | Updated at: 2109 PST, Saturday, May 22, 2010
 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday said that he would invite all the provincial chief ministers to a meeting along with the entire finance team to finalize the issue of Value Added Tax (VAT).
"In order to meet the increasing demand of the country the government has to look into new avenues to generate funds and to streamline financial matters," he said during a meeting with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation led by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Convener of MQM Rabita Committee in Pakistan, Dr.Farooq Sattar which called on him at Prime Minister House.
The prime minister said that education and health would be the priority areas in the next budget. He asked that the delegation should see the finance advisor to give him all the proposals regarding forthcoming budget.
PM Gilani said that the budget would be finalized in consultation with all the coalition partners and that government never discriminated while allocating funds in PSDP to the elected representatives.
He added that for achieving this end every institution has to function within its own ambit and discharge its responsibilities with sincerity of purpose.
The premier said that Pakistan will protect its sovereignty and national integrity at all cost. "We have to and will protect our national assets and will never allow our soil to be used against any other country, nor tolerate any other country to allow its land to be used against Pakistan."
Prime Minister Gilani said he would visit Orangi Town during his next visit to Karachi to see various projects.
Members of the delegation assured complete support for developing the culture of tolerance so that the development process continues in the country.
They also gave proposals for the forthcoming budget. Regarding the Karachi incidents, they said that it has been condemned by all the parties which reflect that greater interaction among parties would help develop better understanding.
The elements, they added, creating differences have to be identified and discouraged.
The delegation stressed that PSDP funds allocations to the elected representatives for the next year be released in time and its disbursement be judicious. |  |
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