PTI govt unveils mini-budget today.

ISLAMABAD -- The PTI-led coalition government is all set to present second mini-budget in its just five-month tenure in the National Assembly today to boost stock market, agriculture and industrial sector besides imposing duties on luxury imports.

This would be the third money bill during the ongoing fiscal year. Earlier, the PML-N government had presented the annual budget for current fiscal year in April 2018 that was followed by a mini-budget in September 2018. Now, Finance Minister Asad Umar would present another mini-budget in the National Assembly today after getting approval from the cabinet that would be chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

An incentive package for exporters and new investments would be announced through the 'Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill, 2019.' 'Government of Pakistan is developing an investment promotion and industrial competitiveness package. Enhancing exports and supporting both domestic and foreign investors' key elements of policy package to be announced on January 23, 2019,' said Khaqan Najeeb, spokesman of the Ministry of Finance.

However, sources said that the government is taking measures to increase the revenue to bridge the shortfall in tax collection that had surged to Rs158 billion in six months (July to December) of the current fiscal year.

About revenue measures, the government has planned to target luxury imports.

The government is likely to increase custom duty on the vehicles (1600cc and above) by 10 percent.

The government may also allow the non-taxpayers to purchase vehicles as the ban had adversely affected the revenue collection. This was one of the reasons behind massive shortfall of Rs158 billion in tax collection during the first six months of the ongoing fiscal year.

The government may also increase duties on the import of expensive mobile phones. An option of imposing Federal Excise Duty (FED) on usage of cellular phone is also under consideration through the upcoming mini-budget to increase tax collection.

The government is also contemplating to impose FED over the consumption of Rs500 load onto phone subscribers on a monthly basis. In other revenue generation...