PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked the provincial government to withdraw the two per cent tax on exports in the name of Infrastructure Development Cess as the move had halted export consignments worth millions of dollars, causing huge financial losses to the exporters.

The demand was made at the maiden meeting of the SCCI executive committee held here on Friday. SCCI president Fazal Moqeem Khan presided over the meeting.

Former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ghazanfar Bilour was also in attendance, according to a statement.

The participants also called for reviewing the decision on property and professional taxes.

The participants termed the imposition of two per cent cess on exports from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an unjust and cruel step on the part of the provincial government, and asked for its immediate withdrawal. They said exports had been shifted to other provinces after the imposition of cess.

The participants expressed fear that trade and exports would be completely vanished if the cess wasn’t withdrawn immediately as the move would also trigger massive unemployment in the province.

The SCCI executive body members said that business and industry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already come to a standstill due to imposition of heavy taxes.

On the occasion, Mr Moqeem said no tax had been imposed on exports in any other province, but two per cent cess was being charged on exports in KP, which was discrimination against the province’s business community.

He also condemned the issuance of property tax and professional tax notices to the businessmen, saying such moves were increasing the sense of deprivation among the entrepreneurs.

He said the SCCI members would soon meet the chief minister and the governor, provincial ministers for finance, excise and taxation and the chief secretary to discuss the problems the business community was facing.

“The SCCI delegation would present suggestions and recommendations for solution to the traders’ problems.”

Zahidullah Shinwari, Haji Mohammad Afzal, Fuad Ishaq, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Faiz Mohammad Faizi, SCCI executive body members and others also spoke on the occasion, and presented proposals for resolution of the issues of the business community.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024