PESHAWAR: The business community has demanded of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take pragmatic steps for broadening tax base and simplifying tax system to the relief of taxpayers.

The demand was made by the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) office-bearers during a meeting with FBR member (public relations) Sardar Ali Khawaja here at the Chamber House on Friday, according to a statement.

SCCI senior vice-president Shahid Hussain called for

the “elimination of additional burden of taxes, illegal and unnecessary actions, issuance of notices, and multiple tax audits, which are becoming the cause of harassment of the business community.”

He said businesspersons had played a vital role in the country’s economic development through payment of taxes so they should be facilitated and provided with every possible relief.

FBR official promises steps to address their issues

“The federal government should frame business-friendly policies to strengthen the economy,” he said.

Mr Khawaja assured traders of proactive measures to resolve their issues.

He also said the FBR would take up the relevant issues with the Pakistan Railways and Customs for necessary action.

He said his organisation was formed to establish a strong liaison and coordination with the business community and resolve its issues by taking them up with the relevant authorities.

“Measures will be taken to remove double taxation,” he said.

The official said despite many deadline extensions, the filing of tax returns had registered a decline in the current year causing a serious concern for the FBR.

He said the board was taking pragmatic steps for bringing reforms and broadening of tax base.

Mr Khawaja said he hoped that the reforms would simply tax system to the relief of taxpayers.

He said the FBR was striving to provide relief to taxpayers, who had played a major role in economic development of the country. He proposed the nomination of a focal person for the speedy resolution of the issues of the business community.

The official said the misuse of laws, regulations and policies was rampant in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas. He said the issues of business community from ex-Fata and Pata would be resolved on priority.

Earlier, SCCI senior vice-president Shahid Hussain complained to the FBR official about problems in the filing of tax returns online and tax payment, and ‘illegal’ notices, actions and harassment by the board.

SCCI executive member Haji Mohammad Afzal, Sherbaz Bilour and Ziaul Haq Sarhadi also highlighted the issues of business community.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2022