LAHORE: Traders have expressed concern over the recent moves of various departments to press small businesses through notices for registration with the tax-net despite the recent announcement by the prime minister to exempt as many as 102 businesses from tax, registration, licenses etc.

“We are concerned at the ongoing move by various tax-collecting agencies who are issuing notices to small businesses in a bid to register them by issuing them licenses. This move is contrary to the PM Imran Khan speech of Jan 21 wherein he had announced relief for 102 small businesses from taxes, licenses etc,” All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran Secretary Naeem Mir told Dawn on Tuesday.

“I don’t know why they (the departments) are creating problems for small shopkeepers, business outlets etc at a time when the business community faces a tough economic situation,” he questioned.

He urged the PM to take strict notice of the problem or someone should clearly tell us that the PM has taken a U-turn on this issue as well,” Mir said.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2020