Suspended ST registration: companies should not be included in voters list of chambers: DGTO

Directorate General of Trade Organisations (DGTO) has declared that firms/companies whose sales tax registration has been suspended by the sales tax department should not be included in the voters list of corporate class of chambers of commerce and industry.
According to an order-in-original NO.09/2014 issued by the DGTO here on Wednesday, the directorate has disposed of complaints filed by Sahibzada Muhammad and others against Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Quetta pertaining to the objections raised against the voters list of both corporate and associate classes.
As per the order of the directorate, the voter list of associate members provided by the chamber shows that National TAX Numbers (NTNs) of a large number of members is incomplete or not valid, which needs to be corrected and those having non-verifiable NTNs, at the moment, shall be excluded from the voters list.
The DGTO said that the only that business concern which has completed two consecutive years in a particular class from the date of enrolment in the chamber's record is eligible to become a voter in that particular class. For example a corporate member who has completed at least two consecutive years as a corporate member of the chamber shall be eligible to be included in the voters list of corporate class. Only firms with a different NTN can have their voting rights for their respective class. A business concern with one NTN cannot vote simultaneously for corporate and associate class at one time. As Chief Executive of a company is also on the board of directors of the company, he is eligible to cast vote on behalf of the company.
Any business concern who has got its membership renewed in accordance with sub rule 5 of rule 11 of Trade Organisations Rules 2013 and has completed two successive years of membership in its class is eligible to cast vote in the election, DGTO said. Any business concern that has substantial business and also Head or branch office in Quetta can become member of the Chamber.
DGTO stated that the firms whose sales tax registration has been suspended by the Sales Tax Department should not be included in the voters list of corporate class. The voter list of associate members provided by the Chamber shows that NTN of a large number of members is incomplete or not valid, which needs to be corrected and those having non-verifiable NTNs, at the moment, shall be excluded from the voters list.
The firms who have applied and qualify to become corporate members of the Chamber be enrolled as corporate members of the Chamber. Since the certain firms have approached the office of Regulator for denial of corporate membership to them, their cases may be scrutinised and if in order, be granted corporate membership: In order to hold election of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Quetta in a fair manner, voters list of both corporate and associate classes needs to be revised in a transparent manner. Therefore, it has been decided that voters list of both corporate and associate classes shall be revised by a scrutiny committee consisting of five members. The members of the scrutiny shall be provided all necessary assistance by the Secretary General of the Chamber. In case of failure to carry out the process smoothly, may lead to other actions, as per Trade Organisations Act, 2013, DGTO order added.