LAHORE: The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) fully supports the government’s efforts to expand the tax-net, but all 0.6 percent indirect tax will discourage and jeopardize financial activities in the country.
The APBF is a vibrant business association which promotes and protects the interests of the business community and industry. Recently the National Board meeting of the APBF was conducted, to discuss the next 6 months strategy, with enthusiastic participation from all board members, representing high-profiled enterprises, associations and institutions, belonging to numerous industrial sectors, from all over Pakistan. The board meeting followed by an iftaar dinner, was also graced by a large number of diplomats, political figures, businessman, academia and prominent media persons.
During the meeting, the APBF bid farewell to its out-going Chairman Mr. Haroon Khawaja, who has successfully finished his tenure. The APBF congratulated him and expressed their appreciation for his valuable services to the Association.
On the occasion, the members of APBF National Board also elected Mr. Khalid Rafiq as the new chairman. Mr. Khalid Rafiq is a seasoned entrepreneur, representing the Habib Rafiq Group of Industries, with major engineering ventures in; power generation, petro-chemicals and infrastructure development. The new chairman thanked the National Board for their trust. He pledged to enrich the performance of APBF with fresh initiatives, leading to social development, economic prosperity and financial inclusion, by building fresh collaborations with resourceful enterprises.
The President of APBF – Mr. Ibrahim Qureshi expressed his gratitude to Mr. Haroon Khawaja and presented a commemorative shield for his prolific efforts, to make APBF a resourceful and productive association. Mr. Qureshi also welcomed the newly elected Chairman – Mr. Khalid Rafiq and expressed his hopes that the new dynamic leader will perpetuate the robust growth of APBF.
President APBF urged the business community across Pakistan to work more cohesively. All sincere, prudent and diligent businessmen must come together to make their voice stronger and inspire positive reforms, to get their operational and regulatory issues resolved. All business associations must have a unified stance against the new 0.6% tax on banking transactions. Although, the APBF fully supports the government’s efforts to expand the tax-net, but all our experts agree that this indirect tax will discourage and jeopardize financial activity in the country. He urged the government authorities to understand and proactively solve the problems faced by the businesses and industries in the country.
