PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq and director excise and taxation department, Islamabad, Bilal Azam inaugurated a vehicles physical verification desk at the chamber here on Sunday.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the chamber house. It was stated that the move aimed at easing difficulties of the business community and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding vehicles’ physical verification.

SCCI vice-president Ijaz Khan Afridi, former presidents Faiz Mohammad Faizi, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Zahidullah Shinwari, Riaz Arshad, members of executive committee Monawar Khurshid, Kashif Amin, Minhajuddin and others were present.

On the occasion, Bilal Azam informed the reporters that 50 entries on excise and taxation department’s Peshawar portal would automatically trigger announcement of a visit of officers from the Islamabad office for physical verification of vehicles.

The desk, he said would also provide registration and post-registration services to vehicle owners of Peshawar and the adjoining districts.

He said similar services were already being provided in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Karachi and Quetta.

Mr Azam said he was already working on an integrated database to help law enforcement agencies, facilitate public assistance as well as generate revenue.

He said his department had already initiated token tax facility through mobile phones and biometric system through e-centres throughout the country.

SCCI president Fuad Ishaq lauded the excise and taxation department for setting up the verification desk at the chamber, stating that the initiative would help remove difficulties of the business community.

He urged the government and relevant authorities to take pragmatic steps for provision of facilities to business community under one-window operation.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2023