The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), has a given 48-hour deadline to Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Shaukat Tarin to remove 'anomalies' from federal budget. Otherwise, they will decide future line of action, which may lead to closure of industries for an indefinite period.
This was decided at a meeting of the chamber held to discuss "anomalies" in the budget 2009-10 on Wednesday. Members of KCCI also urged all the members of the National Assembly (MNAs) to reject the budget. They further decided that the chamber would not send any budget and trade policy proposals in future because government did not pay attention to trade and industry's suggestions.
They termed the budget anti-business, anti-industry and anti export. They noted that there is a serious electricity shortage, no gas for industries, law and order conditions deteriorating day-by-day, cost of doing business is extremely high as compared to its competitors, foreign buyers refuse to visit Pakistan, smuggling is rampant, government withdrawing subsidy on power will ultimately increase power tariff in these condition running industrial units are almost impossible.
Speaking on the occasion, leader of businessmen Group and former President KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli said that the chamber gave 48 hours time to Shaukat Tarin to hold meeting with business community of Karachi and remove budget anomalies otherwise the chamber will be compelled to take some harsh decisions. He said that the budget was prepared by thieves and it will open more doors of corruption and tax evasion. Increasing discretionary powers of government officials will lead to corruption.
Siraj Kassam Teli urged all the political party NMAs not to approve. The budget is highly counter productive, he added. President KCCI, Anjum Nisar said that the chamber proposed reduction of sales tax slabs from three to one and reduction of overall in sales tax from 16 percent to 12 percent which was not accepted.
He said that the government has declared 2009-10 as year of industrial revolution whereas the measure adopted in the budget are contrary to the government declaration. He said that in present scenarios industrial survival is not possible owing 100 percent increase in withholding tax, withdrawal of subsidy on power, whereas gas and power tariffs are already on higher side.
The president said that the government has to decided either it like to see Pakistan on world map as African country or like to see it as developed nation. He said that collecting NTN or CNIC number of purchaser of goods is not the job of business community.
Speaking online at the meeting, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Mian Shaukat Masud said that along with other chamber of commerce and industry of the country ICCI also rejected the budget 2009-10. He said that the government has failed to visualise seriousness of the conditions in which industrialists operating their units. Industrialists facing more then 11 to 12 hours power outrage. Industries are already making losses, he added.
He said that the chamber has decided not to send any proposals regarding federal budget and trade policy in future. Speaking online, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Mian Hamid Javed said that no industry would operate if budget 2009-10 is implemented in its present shape.
He said that the government is forcing people to come of the roads and start agitation. The presented pointed out that Shaukat Train in a recent meeting with business community of Lahore has said that he has not seen the draft of the budget . Who can he address a post budget press conference if he has not seen the draft of the budget, he asked.
Senior Vise President, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)Tahair Malik said online that industrial revival is not possible if budgetary measures are implemented.
He said that industrialist have rejected the budget and added that LCCI is going to hold a press conference on Thursday June 18 to announce its further line of action.
President, Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Mian Muhammad Yousuf said online that in two provinces industrial and economic activities are already come to stand still due to prevailing law and order condition. He feared that industrial activation in remain two province Sindh and Punjab will also come to stand still if government implemented budget 2009-10.
He said the business community has rejected the mandatory condition of providing CNIC and NTN of buyers on sales tax invoice. President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Hassan Ali Bhatti said online that Shaukat Tarin during a meeting with business community assured that he will remove all the anomalies in the budget in next two days.
He said that the business community has rejected the budget and added that if the budget is implemented it may lead of civil disobedience President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Syed Asad Hatider Mashadi said that 18 chamber have prepared budget proposals which have been ignored while prepare budget.
He said that business community would decided further line of action if government failed to take back budgetary measures. Former President KCCI, Haroon Farooki termed the budget as 9/11 for industries. Former President KCCI, A.Q. Khalil said that business community may call for indefinite strike if government failed to accept proposals sublimed by the chamber.
Comments
Comments are closed.