PESHAWAR: Business community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa strongly rejected the provincial government’s decision regarding restoration of octroi system, a tax on various goods brought into a town, describing it as a consistency of the government’s anti-business policies.
The objection was raised during a meeting of traders belonging from Shoba Bazar Peshawar, which was held under chairmanship of SCCI’s president Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad here at the Chamber’s House.
Hasnain Khurshid told the meeting that the Federal Board of Revenue is already collecting 3 percent on the head of the same tax, so it could be completely unjustifiable to restore the ‘Mahsul Chungi’ [octroi tax] System in KP.
He vowed to strongly resist the government’s move, and would lodge a strong protest and also approach the superior court if the ‘Mahsul Chungi system would be revived in the province.
SCCI senior vice president Imran Khan Mohmand, vice president Javed Akthar, traders’ senior leader Haji Amanullah Mohmand, office bearers of Shobha Bazar Traders Association, members of the traders’ community and others were present during the meeting.
The meeting also expressed serious concern over imposition of Point of Sale, an integrated system, introduced by the Federal Board of Revenue.
Traders issues pertaining to collection of double taxes, introduction a fixed tax regime, concern of clearing tax, laden with car/vehicles spare parts in Islamabad and Rawalpindi dry-ports, issuance business visas for various countries, apprehension on newly-introduced PSW –Pakistan Single Window System, and collection levies/duties in erstwhile Fata were discussed.
The participants said the KP has the worst affected by terrorism, followed by the novel coronavirus global pandemic and urged the federal and provincial governments to announce special fiscal relief package to mitigate sufferings of the business community of war-hit province.
Business community has an enormous contribution in the economic development of the country, through paying a number of taxes, the speakers noted.
Therefore, they urged the government authorities to avoid any such harsh and awkward actions to retain dignity of ‘tax-payers’
Meanwhile, industrialists also rejected the government’s decision regarding restoration of Octroi, a tax on various goods brought into a town, which would be collected on various checkpoints across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and urged the government to revise its decision forthwith.
Chairing a meeting here at Industrial Estate Hayatabad Peshawar, president of Industrialists Association Peshawar (IAP), Malik Imran Ishaq strongly objected the government’s decision of re-imposition of ‘Mahsul Chungi’ system [octroi], which was unacceptable to them. The association office bearers, renowned industrialists, senior members were present during the meeting.
The association president also asked the provincial government to avoid taking any such steps, which would cause closure of industries in the province as it would trigger unemployment as a result of stagnation in the industrial sector.
He warned that industrialists would be compelled to take harsh steps and strongly agitate as well as approach the court, if the government restored ‘Mahsul Chungi’ system as per its plan in the KP.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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