KOHAT, Oct 1: The action committee of a grand alliance of local businessmen has rejected the imposition of professional tax by the tehsil administration, terming it an attempt to economically cripple the traders and consumers.

At a meeting held at Kotwali mosque, the representatives of different traders associations expressed concern over the tehsil policy of generating funds by imposing extra burden on businessmen.

They said that businessmen already paid direct and indirect taxes in billions without getting any facility from the government.

The tehsil government had announced in an advertisement in local newspapers that tax had been imposed on 250 items and professions.

The rate of annual tax on some of the professions and businesses is as following: welder Rs2000, petrol and CNG stations Rs50,000, doctor Rs10,000, pathological laboratory Rs5,000, textile mill Rs100,000, cement factory Rs5 million, bank Rs10,000, arms dealer Rs15,000, fish and egg seller Rs5,000, property dealer Rs50,000, bakery Rs10,000, flour mill Rs10,000, cobbler Rs500, milk seller Rs3000, any shop Rs5,000.

The traders said that tax on some of the professions and factories was exorbitant, which would badly affect the already overburdened businessmen.

They said that the tax would increase the prices of essential items, some of which are already beyond the reach of poor man. They vowed to adopt legal means to force the tehsil administration to take back the decision to impose tax.

They regretted that the professionals like cobbler who hardly earned enough to support their families had been included in the tax next.

The meeting was attended by Manzoor Ahmed, chairman of Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Haji Abid, president of Traders Action Committee and Traders Grand Alliance and representatives of main bazaar and Miankhel bazaar associations.

A similar attempt was made in 2,003 by the district council to bring several trades and professions in the local tax net which could not succeed due to pressure of the traders and professionals and the provincial government.

MA CLASSES: Social and political circles have demanded immediate starting of MA Economics and Political Science classes in the Government Girls Post-graduate College ordered by the chief minister two years back.