PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to accelerate the tax refund process and broaden tax net to strengthen national economy.

According to a statement issued here, the demand was made during a meeting of the SCCI delegation led by its senior vice-president Manzoor Ilahi with chief commissioner regional tax office (FBR), Peshawar, Sardar Ali Khwaja.

Regional tax office additional commissioner Ajmal Khan and commissioner corporate zone Mohammad Tariq Jamal shared their views at the meeting, which was also attended by SCCI’s former president Zahidullah Shinwari.

The SCCI office-bearers said FBR should accelerate the tax refund process to minimise miseries of traders. They said that instead of putting additional burden on the existing taxpayers the board should bring more people into the tax net.

The businessmen stressed the need for resolution of the problems of traders affected by Covid-19 and suggested that immediate steps should be taken to facilitate the tax filers.

The chief commissioner said that the government was determined to support the business community and it had released record refunds during the current financial year to address issues of the taxpayers. He assured them of full cooperation with regard to broadening tax net and other related issues.

Meanwhile, the SCCI urged the provincial government to avoid imposing fresh restrictions on shopkeepers for containing Covid-19.

SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour while addressing a meeting of business community said here on Tuesday that the traders could not afford to shut shops by 8pm under the prevailing circumstances.

He urged the government to withdraw its decision as closure of businesses and trade activities would trigger joblessness.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2021