PESHAWAR: Business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Tuesday urged the federal government to announce a new fiscal relief package to revive terrorism-stricken businesses and to give a much-needed boost to the economy of the province.
The businesses and industries have been adversely affected due to deteriorating law and order coupled with a growing tendency of extortion in KP. The government needed to focus on terrorism-hit businesses and the province, which has been contributing in the country’s economy, said Fawad Ishaq, newly elected president of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI). He was speaking at the annual general body meeting of the chamber.
Awami National Party Senator Ilyas Bilour, who is also an Industrialist, chaired the meeting. Bilour said that KP business community was much resilient under the prevailing circumstances. He said they continued their businesses despite all odds and unfavourable conditions. He said the business forum had made efforts for resolution of issues, being faced by the community, particularly illegal Afghan SIMs, rebate and refund and rent-exemption of Auqaf and other properties in the province.
“We will continue efforts to avail a fresh financial package from the centre for terrorism-hit business community,” he said.
KPCCI outgoing president Zahidullah Shinwari, Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Director Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, industrialists, Haji Mohammad Ishaq and Sharafat Ali Mubarak attended the meeting.
The KPCCI chief urged the government to extend relief to business community and take pragmatic steps for boarding of tax-net, rather increasing tax-ratio on the registered taxpayers.
“We are in favour of paying maximum taxes and extending of a new fiscal relief package is dire need of hour, while keeping in view unfavorable businesses conditions in the province,” he stressed.
Fawad Ishaq assured the meeting that policies would be devised in consultation with traders and industrialists and all issues would be resolved under a fast-track strategy. He said, “I will try my level best to make maximum efforts to resolve the issues of the business community.”
Zahidullah Shinwari said that most issues have been resolved during his tenure. He maintained that the issue of Afghan SIMs roaming was also resolved after intervention of the chamber, while kidnappings for ransom and extortion were also reduced in the province. He said the isssues relating to turn-over on sale and income taxes and unregistered supply have been resolved during his tenure. He went on to say that policies and nofitications were the major impediments in the way of enhancing exports and trade volume with Afghanistan. He told the meeting that they had conducted 11th Business Excellence Award ceremony, through which the chamber generated Rs 7.2 million against a total expenditure of Rs 2.4 milllion.
The KPCCI president vowed that they would utilise all resources to resolve issues of the business community.
Earlier, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour distributed souvenirs and shields among the outgoing KPCCI cabinet members.
