RAWALPINDI: An urgent meeting of traders representing different trade associations was held at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here.
The meeting was attended by Vice president Khalid Farooq Qazi, group leader Sohail Altaf, former presidents, representatives from traders associations, members of the executive committee and chamber members.
The meeting was called on recent incidents of harassment and placing of FBR staff at different business centers of the city. Chairing the meeting Acting President RCCI Muhammad Nasir Mirza said that traders have a common voice that harassing traders in the name of collecting taxes must be stopped. FBR and income tax staff should treat traders with respect. Placing and appointing staff at different business centers as a watchdog to monitor business entries is against the basic human rights. Traders on many forums and in meetings with FBR requested that raids/action under section 40B of Sales Tax Act 1990 by FBR authorities on business premises of the tax payers must be stopped.
Group leader Sohail Altaf said that FBR Chairman in his recent visit to RCCI gave clear instructions that traders being highest tax payers must be treated with respect and FBR believes in partnership with the business community and consider them as a backbone of economy.
Unfortunately, this is not happening and FBR harassing attitude pushing us to take extreme step and we might call for strike and shutter down. We are in consultation with different chambers and trade associations and will come out on consensus to give final call, he added.
RCCI acting chief said that Government should act wisely here and asked FBR to stop its harassment campaign going on in the country in the name of tax collection. The country which is going under political and economic uncertainty cannot afford strikes and shutter down, he added.
