ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain Monday said the recently announced tax amnesty scheme would help prevent money laundering and also bring back foreign assets in the best interest of the country.
Talking to reporters during his visit to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, the president said similar amnesty schemes had been successful in Malaysia and Indonesia. He rejected the impression that all the money stashed by Pakistani nationals in foreign countries was looted and laundered. Instead, he said, most of the assets were the result of hard-earned money of Pakistanis and it was not correct to target them across-the-board.
To a question on friction among state institutions, the president said each organ of the state should work in its own ambit to avoid such situation, which could be detrimental for the country.
When asked if he would like to play a role in minimizing this strife, the president said he believed that all were mature enough to sort things out at their own in the national interest.”I don’t think the political parties can work together even if I put my efforts in. Politicians are not minors who need to be told what they should do and what not. They need to join hands in national interest and must not participate in any activity which can halt country’s progress,” he said.
The president mentioned that the country was fast heading towards prosperity in the shape of implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that it required a joint effort by all for smooth journey of the project.
Responding to a question, the president said due to certain compulsions one has to visit some countries, but Pakistanis should avoid going to those countries where they don’t get their due respect.
Earlier, the president visited the token counter for renewal of his passport and passed through all procedural formalities. He expressed satisfaction over the procedure of passport issuance and renewal.
Published in Daily Times, April 17th 2018.
