Sindh Budget 2024-25: Govt proposes hike in sales tax

KARACHI: The Sindh government proposed a two percent increase in the standard rate of Sindh Sales Tax (SST) as Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah who also holds finance portfolio presented Rs 3.056 trillion provincial budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, ARY News reported.

Presenting the budget, the chief minister said that a 2 percent increase was proposed in the SST, however, the exemptions and reduced rates of SST, would remain effective.

“To promote digitalisation in the economy, it was proposed to reduce SST rate to 8percent for the restaurant services involving customers’ payments through digital means like debit/credit card, mobile wallet, QR Scanning, etc. For promoting the Telecom services which pay high rate of 19.5percent SST but utilize input items paying Federal Sales Tax of up to 18percent (which was previously 17percent), it is proposed to allow them the input tax credit of up to 18percent instead of 17percent as at present,” the chief minister said.

The Sindh government announced to provide solar panels to 2.6 million households free of cost across the province.

The chief minister said that the allocation of Rs 25 billion over five years will be directed towards distributing solar home systems, and promoting clean energy access.

“We will provide free solar systems as per the of the Pakistan People’s Party,” he added.

Mazdoor Card

The chief minister said that a Rs. 5 billion has been earmarked for welfare program to provide support for labourers through the Mazdoor Card. He said that to ensure social upward mobility, the budget allocated Rs. 11 billion to agriculture, Rs. 12 billion for social protection, Rs. 3.2 billion for Universities & Board, Rs. 2 billion for Housing & Town Planning, and Rs. 1.5 billion for DEPD.

Increase in salaries

CM Murad Ali Shah proposed a 25 percent increase in salaries of employees in BPS-7 to BPS-16 and a 22 percent rise in salaries of officers in BPS-17 to BPS-22.

The chief minister also announced to increase pension of Sindh government’s retired employees 15 percent.

He also proposed a 15 percent increase in pensions and the minimum wage from Rs35,550 to Rs37,000.

CM Murad Ali Shah said that the total outlay of the budget for the province is estimated at Rs3.056 trillion.