PM Advisor Hafeez Sheikh in pursuit to woo disgruntled traders

• Economic growth of the country is not possible without the support of traders, says Sheikh.
• The Advisor to PM informed that over three million traders are not paying tax.

Prime Minister's Advisor on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh says talks with traders are underway to bring positive results.

Talking to media in the capital on Tuesday, the advisor said economic growth of the country is not possible without the support of traders. He said that over three million traders are not paying tax, therefore, efforts are being made to bring them in tax net to divide the economic burden.

Trader leaders Ajmal Baloch, Mohammad Shafiq, Kashif Chaudhry and Naeem Mir are among those negotiating. On the other hand, at a press conference in Islamabad, Ajmal Baloch said that the Chairman FBR has shown the route of tax evasion. Why is our tax return form not in Urdu? It is demanded that tax declaration forms be made easy in Urdu, he said.

Trading community has kicked off a nationwide two-day shutter down from today against massive taxes imposed by the federal government.

The president of the All Pakistan Traders Association (APTA), Muhammad Ajmal Baloch, called the government's new policies unacceptable and said they were forced to shut down their business due to government’s measures.

Business centres in major cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore observed the strike.

The charter of demands for the two day strike that will be conducted on Oct 29 and 30 includes:

• The abolition of the condition to submit CNIC
• Restoration of the 1.2 million rupees income limit for income tax
• Announcement of fixed tax scheme for traders
• Stoppage of actions by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for the registration of mobile phones
• Restoration of the old property tax system
• Stoppage of the imposition of penalties by different institutions and the collection of professional tax from professionals and organizations
• reduction in trade tax