SWAT: The president of Malakand Division Traders Federation, Abdul Rahim, said on Monday that the one-year relief in taxes given by the federal government to all the districts of the division was not acceptable to them as they had demanded it for 10 years.

Talking to journalists, he said that the people of Malakand division had unanimously demanded 10-year tax exemption, but the government granted only one year exemption from taxes to them.

“We are unhappy with the prime minister’s tax exemption for one year in Malakand division. The former PTI government, due to lack of knowledge and incompetency, could not differentiate between Pata and Fata so it abolished the special status of Pata,” he said.

Mr Rahim said that the former princely states in Malakand were merged in the country in 1969 with the condition that no taxes would be imposed on the people of all the districts of the division.

“Imposition of taxes in Malakand division is a matter of life and death for us. Public feelings and sentiments should be taken into consideration seriously,” he said.

He lauded the Engineer Amir Maqam, the adviser to prime minister, for his efforts in awarding one-year tax exemption to people of Malakand.

“Now we want to draw the attention of Amir Muqam towards the feelings of people. He should make efforts in giving tax relief to people of Malakand division for 10 years,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2023