ISLAMABAD, March 15: The country's chambers of commerce and industry have unanimously rejected the tax measures announced by the government including the imposition of Flood Tax and the RGST.

The declaration came at the end of 3rd All Pakistan Chambers Presidents' Conference, held in Bhurban on Tuesday.

The leaders of the business community asked the government to broaden the tax base.

They said law and order was the most serious issue as it has not only restricted the growth of the economy but discouraged foreign and local investments in Pakistan.

The conference was organised by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (RCCI) and the participants of the conference demanded the government to launch broad anti-corruption initiatives, to reduce tax leakages.

The declaration said, “The business community has rejected any new tax measure because the government needs to broaden the tax base and include the sectors and areas which are tax free now.”

The FPCCI vice president, Chaudhri Aamer Ata Bajwa, said the government did not listen to them on RGST, flood tax and other measures that was why they were opposing them. The policies were based on the reports of bureaucrats and not on the basis of the concerns faced by the stakeholders.

He said that the government was not doing enough to improve productivity in the country. The leaders of the business community highlighted terrorism and growing cases of street crimes, organised crime and lawlessness as a serious cause of concern for the business community.

The presidents of various chambers of commerce and industry demanded strong government measures to eradicate terrorism and introduce the system of community based policing.

“There is nothing more precious than life and it was becoming difficult to operate in an environment of threat and terror,” said the RCCI president Syed Ali Raza.

However, for the first time the business community has come forward over social and national issue of water shortage, demanding the government to establish a 'Water Front' that would include members from all walks of life.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Shazad Malik said that India was using water as a tool against Pakistan and in such a case the whole nation would suffer.

The declaration also demanded that the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act should be passed through the parliament at the earliest.

The business community deplored the government for not developing infrastructures at industrial zones.

The Presidents of All Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry adopted a unified declaration calling upon the government for taking short term and long term steps for the economic growth of the country.

Besides discussing measures to be taken by the government for economic reforms, the conference dilated on water sector reforms, energy sector reforms and improving the law and order situation.

The Energy sector reforms are the key to economic growth. The public sector organizations must clear their liabilities. Every Disco must bear its own losses and conducive policies aimed at encouraging the private sector investment in hydel power projects.