Pakistan, June 19 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the government successfully convinced the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to exempt Pakistan's agriculture sector from taxation, despite persistent demands from the global lender.

"We informed the IMF that the government will not impose any tax on the agriculture sector, including fertiliser and pesticide. I am happy to convey that the IMF, despite its insistence, agreed to our terms," said PM Shehbaz, while addressing the federal cabinet meeting.

He said that the agriculture sector is "already under pressure" in Pakistan, thus protecting it was necessary.

The prime minister shared that the salaried class earning between Rs 600,000-1.2 million will pay 1% income tax...