PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded tax exemptions and soft loans for small and medium enterprises as it presented its budget proposals for the fiscal year 2025-26 to provide relief to the business community.

Talking to mediaperosns here on Tuesday, SCCI president Fazal Moqeem Khan urged the government to rationalise taxes, broaden tax base and refrain from imposing new taxes.

He also sought reduction in duties on import of raw material.

The chamber president emphasised that the government should announce a special package for the development of small and medium industry.

Also seeks special relief package for revival of terror-hit businesses

He said soft loans should be provided to SMEs, especially startups and women entrepreneurs, so that they could equally contribute to the economic growth and development of the country.

He demanded that a special relief package and tax concessions for next five years should be announced for the terrorism-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Moqeem said the budget coming at the time of economic take-off would set the future roadmap.

The SCCI chief urged the federal government to take policy measures aimed at promoting the documented economy to improve tax collection and achieve sustainable growth.

Emphasising the elimination of unregistered and illegal businesses, he said it was necessary that the informal economy was formalised

Mr Moqeem emphasised the need for reducing electricity, gas tariffs, and urged the government to focus on renewable energy to significantly reduce the cost of production and pave the way for rapid revival of the economy.

Talking about the solar policy, he said the policy should be prepared in a way that it covered the interest of both the government and consumers.

He sought repealing all agreements with IPPs.

Meanwhile, while speaking during a pre-budget session at the University of Peshawar, the SCCI chief asserted that the industrial sector needed to be promoted.

He backed privatising loss-making State-Owned Enterprises, stating that it could provide long-term stability to the government’s financial and budgetary position.

The SCCI chief suggested that the government should take steps in the budget to facilitate farmers.

He said sustainable water use, and construction of new dams should be a priority.

He said a special package should be announced in the budget for the revival of the construction sector.

Mr Moqeem emphasised imports should be discouraged and Pakistan should boost production of local products.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025