Congress-ruled Punjab has demanded a cut in tax rate on life-saving items for Covid-19 treatment as well as implementation of pending reforms, including reviewing tax rates and exemptions, setting up of dispute resolution body and ways to bridge shortfall facing states.

In a letter to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal sought a discussion on floor and band of rates within which states may be allowed to fix their respective state-GST rates.