The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has noted that the continually increasing prices of utilities are throwing the set businesses out of the market every now and then and suggested that either the government should allow open competition in the area or stop setting up the prices through NEPRA.
President KCCI, Mohammed Saeed Shafiq further suggested that industrial zones should be established for manufacturing and cottage industry. He said that due to high prices of land, high cost of utilities, high rates and number of taxes, higher port charges and cost of transport & communications compared to other regional ports, high cost of raw materials due to lack of basic industries and dependence on imports, flight of capital to other attractive countries with tax holidays, is taking place. To overcome these issues, he proposed that taxes other than GST and Income Tax be phased out to reduce number of taxes and cost of collection.
-- Government should make single regulatory authority, including shipping lines/agents, freight forwarders, KPT and private terminal operators under Customs and the same should be fully authorised.
-- KCCI also recommends a national tariff authority, which should regulate the uniform tariff of shipping companies / freight forwarders, KPT and private terminal operators. Tariff should be uniform and at par with other regional countries.
-- A business almost makes 47 compliance during a year in Pakistan as per the World Bank survey. It is suggested that laws need to be consolidated to reduce this number.
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