Regional Chairman of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Mian Rehman Aziz has called upon the FBR to stop attaching/freezing of bank accounts of business entities without issuing prior notice. In a statement on Wednesday Rahman Aziz has warned that the FBR would not be able to meet its revenue target set for the year 2016-17 if anti-business measures like raids on business premises and attachment of business accounts continued in Punjab.
He said that a number of FPCCI members have complained that the FBR officials are conducting raids at various business houses and have frozen their accounts without issuing any prior notice. He urged the Federal Finance Minister to immediately stop the FBR from this practice that is pushing the tax payers to the wall besides denting the reputation of a business-friendly government.
He said, "The FBR should not act as "trouble-maker" but should act as a facilitator in the larger interest of the business community, trade and economy." The FBR move would not only give a negative message to the local investors but would also discourage the much-needed foreign investment, he added. He said the FBR should focus on controlling under-invoicing and curbing the menace of smuggling besides expanding tax net.