LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has urged the Federal Board of Revenue to stop misuse of Section 38B of the Sales Tax Act 1990 which is creating atmosphere of harassment.
The demand was raised at a meeting between the LCCI President Abdul Basit, Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan and 40-member delegation of Brandreth Road here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. LCCI executive committee members Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, Zeeshan Khalil, Awais Saeed Piracha, Syed Mukhtar Ali, Moazzam Rasheed, Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim, former executive committee members Rehmatullah Javed and Rizwan Akhter Shamsi were also present on the occasion.
During the meeting, issues of traffic mess, encroachment, high valuation of various goods, difficult taxation system and misuse of discretionary powers also came under discussion.
The LCCI president said that FBR should stop tax officials from creating an atmosphere of harassment. He said that a number of LCCI members have complained that the officials enter the business premises without prior notices or any intimation.
He said that misuse of discretionary powers and raids on business premises have created an atmosphere of harassment amongst the business community. He said that the private sector is ready to supplement all government efforts aimed at revival of economic activities in the country if they are provided breathing space but in the presence of such anti business tactics, it would be very difficult for the private sector to continue with their businesses.
On the issue of massive increase in valuation of various goods, the LCCI President Abdul Basit and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan informed the delegation that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry had already taken up this issue with the Directorate General of Valuation. They urged the DG Valuation to resolve this issue at the earliest as heavy increase in valuation will encourage smuggling that would harm the national economy. They said that Directorate General of Customs Valuation should listen to the point of view of the importers of unbranded garments and find out an amicable solution of the issue. He said that if new valuation mechanism continued to be implemented, importers of imported garments would be left with no other option but to adopt illegal ways to bring imported garments into the country or become defaulter.
The LCCI office-bearers also called for the settlement of the issues like traffic jam, encroachments, construction of parking plazas and aging drainage system on the priority basis. The LCCI Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan also announced to establish a help desk at the LCCI premises for the traders soon.
