The Standing Committee of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Tribal Area has expressed serious concern over levy of taxes on timber imported from Afghanistan, and termed it as unjustified.
In a meeting held here on Thursday, the SCCI Standing Committee observed the timber importers were facing loss in millions of rupees due to levy of taxes.
The meeting, which held under the chairmanship of Zahid Khan Shinwari, was informed that the political authorities were demanding Rs 175,000 taxes on 600 cubic feet timber, while the forest department levied Rs 38,000 on the same quantity of timber and Rs 42,500 by the Customs department.
Whereas, except from the Customs department, the levy of taxes in tribal area by any other department is against law, the participants of the meeting observed.
The meeting was also informed that the Governor Secretariat, Fata, has imposed taxes on minerals produced in tribal area, which was also unjustified.
However, the meeting welcomed the announcement made by NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) about setting up of two industrial zones in Fata.
The decision, they said, would open a new chapter of development in Fata, and improve the economic condition of the tribes men.
Meanwhile, another meeting of the Cantonment Board Standing Committee of the Sarhad Chamber has decided to hold a big protest procession in Peshawar Saddar against he increase in lease rates by Cantonment Board and imposition of taxes on sign boards.
The meeting, chaired by Traders Association Peshawar Saddar President Sharafat Ali Mubarik, also decided to send a delegation of Saddar Bazaar shopkeepers to the NWFP governor to apprise him about the introduction of new taxes by the Cantonment Board.
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