Businessmen want enabling environment, peace of mind: Zubair Ahmed Malik

Govt assures FPCCI of resolution of problems, acceptance of demands

Directives issued to FBR for speedy implementation, other departments: Ishaq Dar

Dated: Sept 23

Government on Sunday assured The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for resolution of all the justified outstanding problems being confronted by the business community.

Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Finance Minister contacted President of FPCCI Zubair Ahmed Malik to inform him about the decision of the government regarding acceptance of all the reasonable and appropriate demands.

Ishaq Dar told FPCCI chief that FBR and all the other departments have been directed to expedite the formalities and implement decisions as soon as possible.

He said that provision of enabling environment to the traders and industrialists is among top priorities of the government which is necessary to attain growth targets and overcome multiple problems including unemployment.

Dar said that government will frame policies with the help of business community which can help fulfil agenda of national development at a rapid pace.

At the occasion, Zubair Ahmed Malik said that business community has been facing multifarious problems which must be resolved so that we can play our due role in the national development with peace of mind.

Law enforcing agencies has restored our confidence to so extent but the genuine demand of the business community to bring changes in the federal budget 2013-14 were not accepted which disappointed us, he said.

He said that inflation has taken toll on masses and all the sectors which has left people hungry and Pakistani products non-competitive in the regional and international markets.

The FPCCI chief said that the situation has left local and foreign investors very frustrated which is casting negative shadow on the economy.

Malik Zubair Ahmed hoped that government will accept all the warranted demands of the business community so that they continue their businesses restfully.

It may be mentioned that FPCCI on September 17 announced to look into the option of protest if their demands were not met by the government.

Read More

APCNGA lauds FBR for taking right decision

FBR withdraws hike of tax on CNG sector

Dated August 19

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken back the recent hike of taxes on the CNG on the persuasion of the owners of the CNG stations.

FBR had recently increased ratio of taxes on CNG from 26 per cent to 32 per cent while the gas companies have included the increased tax in the gas bills.

However, the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) persuaded the tax authorities to reverse the decision in the national interest.

Following some meetings the FBR authorities were convinced who reversed the decision and issued a notification in this regard.

The FBR has directed the gas distribution companies not to include the additional amount in the gas consumption bills for CNG stations which has been termed a success of masses by Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha, Chairman Supreme Council APCNGA.

He said that the decision has raised concerns among all the eighty million stakeholders who would have been suffered a lot if the decision was implemented in this era of double digit inflation.

Paracha lauded the FBR authorities for taking a right decision in the interest of masses. He said that FBR has provided interim relief and final decision in this regard may be taken in September.

He informed that CNG prices will remain the same after the decision. It may be mentioned that the 31 per cent sales tax on CNG outlets includes 17 per cent standard sales tax, 9 per cent value addition tax and 5 per cent extra sales tax imposed only for supplying electricity/gas.

Read More

FPCCI to support all positive steps of FBR to put economy back on tract

FBR seeks FPCCI, business community’s help to broaden tax base

Reduced taxes to boost revenue, curb illicit trade: Malik Zubair

FPCCI to support all positive steps of FBR to put economy back on tract

Islamabad: Dated: May 30^th

Ansar Javed, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday said Pakistan’s future is linked to promotion of tax culture and we are determined to improve tax-to-GDP ratio to make Pakistan a respectable and self-sustaining nation.

He said that we have chalked out a plan to promote tax culture in country for which many steps have been initiated including establishment of a Data Warehouse which will boost the number of taxpayers from existing 1.3 million to 20 million.

Ansar Javed said this while speaking at a pre-budget seminar organised by FPCCI. President FPCCI Zubair Ahmed Malik, Members FBR Muhammad Riaz and Raza Baqir, VP Saarc CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik, Chairman FPCCI Budget Committee Zakaria Usman, VPs FPCCI Azhar Saeed Butt, Muhammad Ali, Khawaja Iqbal, President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawri and others were also present on the occasion.

Chairman FBR said that meeting business community help us to get first-hand knowledge and reaction of the stakeholders which will help us improve performance and ensure a level playing field.

“We are seriously vetting budget proposals to facilitate business community and we need support of FPCCI to expand the tax base,” the chief of Apex tax agency said.

He said that we are employing latest technology alter to local needs, to facilitate taxpayers and discourage misuse of authority by field staff.

Assuring all support to the business community, Ansar Javed said that FBR is not supposed to collect taxes only but to take care of economic direction of the country and play its role in development of society.

Earlier, President FPCCI Mr. Zubair Ahmed Malik told Chairman FBR said that country is passing through difficult situation due to mismanagement, bad governance, deteriorating law and order situation and energy crunch which have increased the crime rate, unemployment and revenue loss.

However, he said, FPCCI will support all the positive steps of FBR to put economy back on tract, assured Malik. 

VP FPCCI Iftikhar Ali Malik and Minister for Information Technology Sindh, Mian Zahid Hussain and office bearers of various business chambers said that SRO culture should be discouraged as it serves no purpose but to confuses businessmen.

Consultation with business community before issuance of SROs and other directives should be made mandatory to boost confidence, they demanded.

FPCCI officials said that subsidy given to different sectors to the tune of Rs 452 amounts to wasting the hard-earned money of taxpayers which should be abolished or minimised.

Criticising the Sales Tax regime, they said that it is not progressive but regressive which is not helping in any way.

Participants of the seminar also discussed issues pertaining to recent economic downturn, revenue targets, mismanagement, tax relaxations, confusing rules and regulations, continuation in policies, tax breaks, increasing share of parallel economy in the national GDP, registration and deregistration process, and overall tax environment.

The Chairman FBR promised to respond to the issue raised by business leaders within seven days.

Read More

Terrorism to resurface if tribal areas ignored by policymakers

Next Govt asked to focus on reviving industry in tribal areas

Terrorism to resurface if tribal areas ignored by policymakers

Call for facilitating businesses in tribal areas to ensure peace

May 29

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Wednesday asked the next government to escalate the revival of industrial activities in tribal areas.

After years of unrest some peace has been restored and life has becoming normal which calls for renewed efforts to support people of tribal areas living miserably, it said.

New wave of terrorism can resurface in the tribal areas if government continued to ignore the revival of business activities in Fata and Pata, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that business community and overseas Pakistanis should also invest in militancy-hit and cash-starved tribal areas while government should ensure conducive environment, proper communication facilities and smooth supply of energy.

Government should support indigenous industry and businesses, develop public private partnerships, frame proper for setting up industrial estates and zones, hold expos, seminars, job fairs and other activities to promote investment in tribal belt, he said.

Similarly, Dr Murtaza Mughal said, banks should extend their coverage and introduce micro credit schemes in the neglected areas.

Despite vast resources, the tribal region has limited economic base to cater to the basic needs of millions of tribal people because of the neglect spanned over decades, he observed.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that many industrial concerns have been closed in tribal territory while few have luckily been surviving. Few years back there were fifteen vegetable ghee units in tribal belt while the number has come down to two catering for one sixth of the demand in tribal areas.

He criticised the ghee producers of the settled area who are conspiring against the two surviving units to impose certain levies in violation of the constitutional immunity to get them closed and seize the entire market of the tribal area.

The FBR should not pay heed to the demand Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturing Association forwarded through letter No. PVMA/1097/FBR/2013 as it will be illegal and unconstitutional which will deprive hundreds of their jobs, demanded Dr Mughal.

Read More