SRO 608: Body to be formed to address reservations: special assistant to Prime Minister

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue, Haroon Akhter has said that a committee will be formed soon to address the reservations of business community on SRO 608. He was talking to the 10-member delegation comprising MNA Pervez Malik, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, Vice President Nasir Saeed, former LCCI Presidents Sheikh Muhammad Asif, Bashir A Baksh, Mohammad Ali Mian, former LCCI Senior Vice President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh.
LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad highlighted the key factors hampering the trade and economic activities in the country and sought the government's help for their early solution. While apprising Haroon Akhtar about various issues being faced by business community, he said that the Federal Board of Revenue is misusing Section 38 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 as Sales Tax Department officials are using negative tactics to create an atmosphere of harassment for the importers as well as industrial sector by accessing their premises without giving any kind of notices whatsoever.
He said that the officials enter the business places without prior notices or any intimation as par rules and regulations. He also expressed serious concern that the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, FBR is also hampering the business activities by probing into business premises without prior intimation. He further said that the issue of sales tax refunds pending with the department is another grey area. He said that the companies are facing problems when they file their refund claims, the department tells them that the company with which they had done business has been suspended/blacklisted, whereas the supplier company was active at the time of making purchases. How should a company foresee this problem?
The LCCI President proposed that the government reduce the rate of Export Refinance Scheme to 3.5 percent from 4.5 percent for all other export oriented industries as it is already in practice for the textile sector. He said that business community is backbone of the economy and government is utilising all resources to get the issues being faced by the business community solved at the earliest. He said that, being a businessman himself, he fully understands the gravity of challenges. Haroon Akhter informed the delegation that he has been fighting hard for the cause of business community in the country.