Says non –issuance of refund, rebate has made industrialist to shut down units, delays in sales tax registration has become a routine matter
LAHORE: Gujranwala is a big industrial hub and there must be a Collectorate of Customs to cater to the needs of importers and exporters and resolve their day to day issue of clearance, valuation and other problems. Delays in sales tax registration has become a routine matter while non –issuance of refund and rebate up to Rs 3 billion has made the industrialists to shut down their units due to shortage of working capital.
These views were expressed by Gujranwala Tax Bar Association (GTBA) President Abid Hafeez Abid while exclusively talking to the Customs Today the other day.
He said, “Customs WeBOC system is landmark software but unfortunately the businessmen in Gujranwala cannot fully utilize the same due to difficult access to the system.” He said that there is a need to establish a representative office of the customs in the city.
“In true sense, the city is one big industrial hub of the country and there must be a Collectorate of Customs to resolve the issue of the business community,” the GTBA president added.
He said that at least a sub-office must be set up for the importers to save their precious time which they spend while travelling to Symbrial which is 50 kilometers away from Gujranwala.
On the GTBA’s part, the bar is striving hard to set a unit of the customs for the resolution of WeBOC related problems and other issues in collaboration with Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the GTBA president stated.
“Our city is a big industrial hub after Lahore and Sialkot, Faisalabad which contributes huge junk of revenues to the national kitty,” Abid highlighted, adding that unfortunately the city has only one office of Customs Intelligence and Investigation.
On the other hand, no adjudication office of the customs is establish here for which we have to travel from Gujranwala to Lahore which is so troublesome exercise, Abid pointed out.
Sales tax registration is also so complicated process but no one is there to redress the issue despite several complaints, he said adding that the issue should be taken up on urgent basis beside only relevant documents should demanded by the tax authorities for the taxpayers.
Talking about refunds and rebates, Abid stated that non –issuance of refund and rebate worth Rs 2-3 billion is also one very important issue which needs authorities immediate attention.
The industries of Gujranwala have run short of working capital which is forcing them to shut down industrial units. The reduction in the business size will impact directly on employment level and revenue collection.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) the government to issue the refunds and rebates stuck-up for the last four years immediately so the wheel of the industry could run at its full speed, he concluded as saying.
