Srinagar, Feb 5: In view of the ensuing budget session of the state legislature commencing from 28th Feb, Minister for Finance today started the exercise of pre-budget discussions interacting representatives of the travel and tourism trade, chamber of commerce and industry, transport operators, intellectuals and academicians at Banquet Hall, Srinagar.            
 The demands put forth by various trade bodies at pre-budget discussions included revival of sick industrial units, extension in the sales tax amnesty scheme, reduction in stamp duty, adequate funding for protection of the heritage Srinagar city from acute sewerage and drainage problem, interest subversion  scheme for handicrafts, exemption from general sales tax in respect of the tourism sector including hotel industry for five years beyond 01-04-2011, infrastructure development in the form of godowns and terminals to boost LoC trade.           
 The Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) was represented by G M Dugga, Zahoor Ahmad Tramboo, Reyaz Shahdad and Asif Burza whereas the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Abdul Hamid Punjabi, Mushtaq Burza.
 The group of academics and intellectuals included Prof. Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Department of Business School, Kashmir University, Prof. M. Sultan Bhat, Department of Geography, Kashmir University, Prof, Noor Ahmad Baba, Department of Political Science, Kashmir University, Syed Fayaz Ahmad, Registrar, Kashmir University.           
 The government was represented, among other senior functionaries of Finance Department, by the Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Khawaja Bashir Ahmad,  Commissioner Excise, G.A. Peer, Additional Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Kashmir and Mushtaq Ahmad, Commissioner, Finance, Commercial Taxes and R.K. Koul.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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