All Pakistan Cotton Powerlooms Association (APCPA) has expressed grave concern over the new proposed schedule of trade tax (previously motor tax) by District Government and its leaders have stated that an already solved issue had been made disputed once again, which had created harassment among the powerloom owners.
In a joint press statement issued here on Monday, Rana Akhlaq Ahmed, Chairman and Mohammed Akram Ghouri, Vice Chairman of APCPA said that the District Government had proposed to levy trade tax on weaving and powerloom industry from July 2004.
According to new proposed schedule, the powerloom owners would have to pay Rs 100 per plain loom, Rs 200 per auto loom and Rs 500 per shuttle-less loom, whereas a proposal of an increase of only 25 percent was given to the District Nazim in already fixed motor tax of Rs 27 per loom.
They said that in contrary to these recommendations the schedule of previous financial had been issued again with slight amendments.
The leaders of APCPA said that the powerloom owners would not accept any increase in the motor tax/trade tax because it would result in the increase of cost of production and industrial output would be adversely affected.
Rana Akhlaq Ahmed and Mohammed Akram Ghouri said that the employment of hundreds and thousands of people depends on the powerloom industry, which was already in crisis and it had no strength or ability to bear the burden of more taxes.
The leaders of association appealed to the district government that it should honour its promises and recommendations and no load of more taxes should be levied on the labour intensive and export oriented powerloom industry.
They said that the imposition of heavy trade tax would lead the national cottage industry towards complete destruction.
They urged the district government that it should take such steps to encourage industrial investment and there should be opportunities of employment.