Founder Chairman, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) Captain A Moiz Khan has expressed resentment over the slamming of 15 percent GST on foreign travel.
He lamented that the government is not aware of the fact that Pakistani industrialists and especially exporters are forced to travel not only to find markets for their products but also to meet foreign buyers in Dubai or any other place of their choice. It is because most of the buyers do not prefer to visit Pakistan owing travelling advises.'
He said a return ticket to Dubai at present cost Rs 16,755. Now after adding tax the traveller has to pay Rs 18,635 or Rs 1,880 extra. Likewise a ticket of USA at present cost Rs 81,680. Now after adding tax it will cost Rs 92,501 or 10,821 extra. He calculated that Pakistanis going abroad on an average purchase tickets worth Rs 3 billion per month that gives a revenue of Rs 45 crore to the government. He said that the business community has a unanimous view that the imposition of 15 percent sales tax on travelling would have an adverse impact on exports and demanded its withdrawal.-PR