RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has rejected recent media reports suggesting that the salaried class contributes more in taxes than exporters, wholesalers, and retailers. RCCI President Usman Shaukat termed such claims “misleading” and “based on incomplete information.”
Addressing the issue on Tuesday, Shaukat clarified that the business community remains the largest contributor to Pakistan’s national exchequer. He noted that nearly 60 percent of total tax revenue comes from indirect taxes, most of which are paid by traders and businesses through various commercial activities.
“The report gives a false impression that traders are outside the tax net, which is far from reality,” he said. “A significant portion of the salaried class works in the private sector, and their salaries are funded by exporters, wholesalers, and retailers from their profits. Presenting salaried individuals separately in tax statistics without full context distorts the real picture of tax contributions.”
The RCCI president emphasized that the Chamber has consistently supported reducing the tax burden — including for the salaried class — to encourage investment and economic growth. “Lower tax rates boost business activity and eventually expand the overall tax base,” he added.
Citing official data, Shaukat highlighted that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected over Rs. 12 trillion in taxes during the last fiscal year, of which Rs. 600 billion came from the salaried class. For fiscal year 2025–26, the FBR’s revenue target is set at Rs. 14.3 trillion.
“Excluding the salaried segment, where does the remaining revenue come from?” Shaukat questioned. “It is the business community that shoulders the heaviest tax load, including super taxes and other levies.”
He urged policymakers and media outlets to present tax data responsibly and factually, stressing that misleading narratives damage the credibility of Pakistan’s business community — which he described as the backbone of the national economy.
