FAISALABAD, Jan 3: All Pakistan Sizing Industries Association has demanded of the government to expedite the registration of sizing units and powerlooms factories and save their owners from the excesses of sales tax department otherwise they would close their business.

The association chairman, Mirza Muhammad Shafiq, while talking to newsmen here on Thursday said with the launch of the tax survey and registration of national economy drive in 2000, the small businessmen including owners of powerloom and sizing units were asked to get themselves registered with the Sales Tax Department otherwise they would have to face legal action.

He said all the associations of traders, after holding detailed discussions with the government agencies, agreed to get themselves registered. But so far the survey has not been completed due to negligence of the authorities concerned and corrupt mafia of the sales tax department.

He said that only 20 per cent powerlooms and sizing factories of the country had been registered forcing the owners to pay 18 per cent extra sales tax. The sales tax staff has been creating problems for the small businessmen.

He apprehended that if corrective measures were not taken, the sizing factories owners would not be in a position to deposit their sales tax returns.