Ban on Meals. One dish, one sweat dish. Smokin’ under 18, prohibited.
Punjab cabinet bans meals at wedding
LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet has approved the exemption of Agriculture Income Tax (AIT) on 12.5 acres from five acres. This change will benefit more than 97 percent small farmers. The Cabinet allowed one dish and one sweet dish at Walima only. It approved the Bill banning sale of cigarettes to under-18 smokers.
Cabinet took these decisions in a meeting held here Tuesday at the Punjab Secretariat with Chief Minister Ch Pervez Elahi in the chair.
The meeting was told that the decisions regarding Agricultural Income Tax (AIT) and wedding meals would be presented in the upcoming session of the Punjab Assembly. The Cabinet also decided to take strict measures for the implementation of restrictions on dowry. The chief minister said the government made the decision about AIT keeping in view the socio-economic position of small farmers. The rising cost of pesticides, petrol and other inputs has already put great burden on farmers, therefore, imposition of AIT was not justified, he said.
He, however, said every citizen should pay tax on his taxable income, but ground realities should be considered while levying taxes, he stressed. The chief minister directed the officials concerned to ensure that while evolving the details of AIT, plantation of orchards should be encouraged and promoted. He maintained that the orchards were playing a significant role in country’s exports and this sector should not be burdened.
Earlier, the Cabinet approved the Bill on wedding meals with some amendments. It recommended banning of meals in all wedding functions except Walima with no more than 300 guests. No meal will be allowed at Mehndi, Mayoon, Rukhsati etc while, single dish along with a single sweet dish be allowed at Walima only.
Ch Pervaiz said the decision had been taken according to Islamic traditions with respect to Walima and public opinion. He further said the decision was made keeping in mind the difficulties of parents of daughters, who have to bear a lot of financial expenditures and fulfill other unjustified demands.
During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Arshad Khan Lodhi opined that that wedding meals be allowed as a large number of people were rendered employed after the ban. Special Assistant to the CM, Raja Basharat contended that the poor parents should not be burdened any more.
The CM thanked the central leadership of the PML-QA, Ulema, Journalists and others particularly women for guiding him in this direction. He said the government would take welfare-oriented decisions in the light of public opinion.
The meeting also took serious note of kite-flying with metallic wires and directed district administration to take strict measures to stop it. Home Secretary Brig. Ejaz presented a report about the steps taken for the restoration of gas supply.