Dawn
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05:23 Jun 18, 2025
• Members of parliamentary committees say protectionist measures unnecessary as no one producing solar panels locally • Omar Ayub insists tariff structure altered under IMF pressure • Nafisa Shah slams ‘martial law-style’ FBR enforcement measures ISLAMABAD: In a rare show of unity, parliamentary committees on Tuesday unanimously rejected the proposed 18 per cent sales tax on imported solar panels and recommended lowering tax rates on smaller cars to ease the burden on low-income groups. The Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Finance and Revenue held parallel sessions at Parliament House to conduct a clause-by-clause review of the Finance Bill 2025-26. Both panels, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and MNA Naveed Qamar, respectively, proposed amendments and rejected several measures outright. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial defended the solar tax, arguing it would protect domestic manufacturers. However, lawmakers pointed out that solar panels are ...