Traders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have threatened that they would besiege the building of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and hold a long march to Islamabad, if government failed to withdraw the new fixed-tax and fuel adjustment surcharge in electricity bills within next two to three days.
The government was imposing different direct and indirect taxes on war-affected traders, which was totally unjust and unfair, said Haji Haleem Jan, president Central Tanzeem-e-Tajraan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while talking to Business Recorder here on Friday. He further said that traders cannot afford burden of new taxes, and rejected the new fixed tax, fuel adjustment surcharge in electricity bills.
He criticised that government had completely failed to provide relief to masses, saying that business and trade activities were adversely suffered due to escalating terrorism situation. He said that unprecedented hike in petroleum prices, electricity and gas tariff, had already multiplied the miseries of traders and general masses. The business activities were yet to pick up in the province, while the imposition of different direct and indirect taxes was further manipulated the situation. He demanded of the government to further extend PM fiscal relief package for war-affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"We have planned to besiege the building of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on March 20 th", he warned. He said that the members of all traders unions would be participated in the long march to Islamabad. Haji Mohammad Ghafaran Saraf said the unconventional policies government tax- regime was maligning war-affected business community of the province. He urged it should be rectified, saying that the businessmen were suffered huge losses in prevailing deteriorating law and order situation and constant acts of terrorism.
Mian Abdul Manan, president All Pakistan Anjum Tajraan said that the industrial and business activities had adversely declined to excessive load shedding of electricity and gas in the country. He criticised that the government is following the foreign policies and agenda and putting the economy detrimental situation. He rejected that FBR condition of form "D", bonding the commercial banks to provide statements and records of traders to it. Therefore, he said that all trader unions throughout the country would participate in upcoming protest plan and besieging of FBR office building on March 20th.