ISLAMABAD: The government will consider taking measures for equitable taxation, strengthening of the economy and boosting the industry in the next fiscal budget, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar Khan said on Monday.

“There is no point of taxation if it harms the industry and weakens the very sources of revenue generation,” Mr Khan told a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at the headquarters of the Federal Board of Revenue.

The delegation was led by its newly elected president, Ghazzanfar Bilour.

An official statement issued after the meeting said the minister assured the delegation that he was open to proposals about tax relief.

“The government believes in boosting the industry. We are willing to work with the chambers of commerce and industry to ensure a level playing field for businessmen and investors,” he said.

Mr Khan assured the delegates that the government will continue to pay refunds through bank accounts to prevent any delay and avoid the hassle associated with the manual processing.

“We started this mode of payment to facilitate the business community. We are committed to doing the same in the future,” he said.

The delegation requested Mr Khan that any amnesty scheme to bring offshore assets and investments home should be extended to onshore businesses as well. He assured the delegation that the government valued its suggestions and proposals.

He invited the FPCCI to come up with practical proposals and recommendations for the next budget to boost the industry.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2018