KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has secured a significant breakthrough, as top government officials have assured a review of the much-contested Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 following strong opposition from the business community.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh announced that Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Industries and Production, has given his personal assurance that the ordinance will be reconsidered in light of FPCCI’s concerns and recommendations. Atif Ikram Sheikh, who also holds positions as President of ECO-CCI and Vice President of CACCI, called this assurance a “major policy advocacy success” for FPCCI and a much-needed step towards business-friendly taxation.
A senior delegation from FPCCI met with SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan in Karachi to voice their deep reservations over the Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. The delegation highlighted what they described as the ordinance’s potential to increase harassment, corruption, and inefficiencies within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), instead of achieving the intended goals of better tax collection and digital transformation.
Atif Ikram Sheikh argued that excessive human interaction in tax processes undermines fairness and transparency. “Globally, less interaction between tax officials and taxpayers has proven to reduce corruption and maladministration. We must follow this proven model rather than adding more layers of human discretion,” he asserted.
SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the business community. He confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the formation of dedicated committees to collaborate directly with FPCCI and other trade bodies to resolve policy issues.
Adding to the progress, FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon revealed that the government has agreed to extend the six-month exemption on Dangerous Petroleum Liquids (DPL) for another half-year, following FPCCI’s lobbying. He emphasized the urgent need to define DPL properly and streamline its regulation, transportation, and availability for industrial use.
The FPCCI delegation included industry heavyweights such as Hamid Arshad Zahur, Chairman of Pakistan Tanners’ Association, and Haroon Ali Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA), signaling the unity and strength of FPCCI’s stance.
With FPCCI pushing back against ill-conceived tax policies, the dialogue between the government and the business sector appears to be moving toward constructive solutions, ensuring that Pakistan’s economic framework supports growth, transparency, and industrial sustainability.
