LAHORE: All-out efforts, available resources and all energies will be incorporated in order to bring comfort and peace of mind to the business community by resolving their overdue issues pertaining to customs, smuggling refund and rebate, sales tax and other besides doors of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) will always remain open for traders and industrialists’ service.
These views were expressed by newly elected President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Abdul Basit the other day.
Talking to Customs Today at the LCCI, Abdul Basit said that doors of the chamber are open for traders and industrialists. The LCCI president said that the PIAF-Founder had visited all most all the markets and associations and was informed about the issues faced by traders and industrialist. He said that PIAF-Founder Alliance has won the elections with a clear margin and all the problems being faced by the business community will be resolved.
He mentioned the major issues including refund and rebate, illegal seizures of the businessmen computer records and accounts will be sorted out and solved following consultation with the business community and authorities.
He underscored that businessmen have been playing their due role in economic wellbeing of the country and they should be respected and provided level playing field enabling them to conduct their business with peace of mind and add up to the important revenue to the national exchequer.
He said that refund and rebate is one gigantic concern of the trade and industry as the government has been using delaying tactics in issuance of refund and rebates to the businesses due to which an acute shortage of capital has brought the business activities in the country to a grinding halt.
“Businessmen seem always to be complaining that they have to move from pillar to post to recover their own money,” he said, adding that on the other hand the government has been ruthlessly operating to recover all duty and taxes.
No doubt every law abiding citizen, traders, industrialist should pay their taxes liabilities enabling the government to run business of the state and undertake public welfare projects, he added.
“On the contrary, it is equally important for the government to pay back all the refunds and rebates due to the business in full and timely so that business concerns could flourish thereby adding to the economic growth and developments,” the LCCI president highlighted.
“Unfortunately, this is not being done due to which the trade and industry have to face numerous losses in term s of money and business”.
He demanded that the government should pay back the refunds and rebate to the trade and industry with interest in the manner which the trade and business bye capital from the banks and financial institutions on high rate of interests.
In answer to a question he said that law and order situation has improved to a significant level in the country, however, continuous efforts in this regards are required to be done so that not only the local but foreign investors may also incline to invest in the country.
He was of the view that political stability and consistency were also important for the economic growth and development and for this the politicians of the country must understand the importance of their constructive role in the economic growth and development.
