The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT) has voiced its concern on the Benami Account Bill tabled by the government on Monday. In his address during a press conference, General Secretary Naeem Mir claimed the government had never consulted with trade representatives and taken them into confidence before tabling the bill.
He also said, "If the government wants to take action against traders through the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), they should first take step to make the bureau impartial. The tabling of the bill shows that the Federal Board of Revenue is a failed department and the board and the Federal Investigation Agency will take action under the proposed bill.
"Trade representatives are going to meet federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the bill. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has himself said there is a need for the board." He also said traders wanted to pay tax and demanded that the government extend until June 10 the Voluntary Tax Compliance Scheme.