SAHIWAL: Various bazaars and intersections in the city are adorned with banners condemning tax imposition on small traders and the business community while leaving out big industrialists.

One of the banner states that the tax noose had been tightened around the necks of small and medium industrialists, while “unreasonable concessions” were offered to big industrialists such as those dealing in sugar and cement. These banners were installed in the city by Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

SCCI President Rashid Hameed, while talking to Dawn, said the purpose of this campaign was to highlight the concerns of the small trading and business community of the region.

The SCCI hosted a joint meeting with Markazi Anjuman Tajiran for critically analysing impacts of the proposed budget on the trader community.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a joint communiqué was issued expressing demands of the small trader community. Mr Hameed said: “This is unjust. Instead of bigger industrialists, small and medium range traders have been taxed further.”

He argued that imposing more taxes on those already paying them will not yield desired results. “The federal government should evolve strategies to stop corruption and identify new taxpayers through the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).”

He further said sales tax should be deducted and imposed on the production point of any consumer item and not imposed at the distributor, wholesaler and retailer level.

This will increase burden on consumers, he stated, adding that the ongoing levy of sales tax at all points will hike prices for the public.

He demanded withdrawal of sales tax on the production and sale of ornaments.

Markazi Anjuman Tajiran General Secretary Ahsan Abdullah Butt strongly objected to the sharp increase suggested in the renewal of licence fee for vegetable/fruit market commission agents and brokers.

The SCCI expressed concerns over the 100 per cent increase in valuation table by the local government and said traders wanted its reversal. The joint communique also stated that the registration of any business must be done by relevant business organisation and not a public authority.

The tax collection system must be simplified for small and medium traders as they had strong reservations over the complicated procedures adopted by the FBR.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2019