LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) has once again urged the Punjab government to withdraw Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess (PIDC) in the larger interest of trade & industry of Punjab.
In a statement issued here, the LCCI President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad said that government should take decision immediately so that unrest among the business community could come to end.
Sheikh Muhammad Arshad said that business community was expecting that Punjab government would issue the notification of withdrawal of PIDC but no action has yet been taken in this regard.
He said that imposition of this Cess is a sort of double taxation and will further burden up existing taxpayer who are already coping a number of challenges. He said that after imposition of Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess, businessmen would start clearing their consignment in other provinces to avoid this tax which would not only hurt businesses of clearing agents and transportation companies that provide employment to thousands but would also cause huge damage to the provincial exchequer.
The LCCI president said that Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess is an indirect tax as it will be charged on movement of goods including raw materials cleared on dry ports of Punjab and will ultimately prove to be an impediment to economic growth of the province.
The LCCI president said that businessmen of Punjab should be given some breathing space to supplement the Punjab government efforts aimed at economic revival of the province. He said that at present when businessmen of Punjab are trying to play their best for progress and prosperity of the country, they need a helping hand from the Punjab government. He said that there is a dire need to avoid new levies like Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess as they are not in a position to bear more burden.
Sheikh Muhammad Arshad hoped that Chief Minister would take up the matter personally and withdraw Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess act to in the larger interest of the business community.
