KARACHI, Aug 6: Industrialists have asked the Sindh government to take measures for reducing visits of field staff of multiple tax collecting agencies to industrial units.

Appreciating the Punjab government for disallowing visits of field staff of Punjab Employees Social Security Institution, F B Area Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Idrees Gigi urged the provincial government to stop Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi) from visiting industrial establishments.

He said it was very strange that stamp duty for negotiation of documents was much higher in Sindh compared to Punjab which had increased the cost of production.

M A Jabbar, former vice-president of FPCCI, said that if the industry was allowed to work in a fair and free environment it would help the government to attract more investment to generate employment for youths.

He said the institutions such as Employees Old-age Benefits Institution and Sessi had collected billions of rupees through contribution made by the industry but the money had not been invested for the welfare of workers.

There are around 36 departments, including labour department, civil defence inspectors, etc.

North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Noor Ahmed Khan said that if the government curtails these departments it will help the industry to reduce cost of production.

Since most of the industry in Sindh, he said, falls under municipal jurisdictions, it has to pay property tax as well. In other parts of the country Mr Khan said most of the industrial clusters were outside the cities giving them an edge in cutting cost.