Traders warn of protests unless new taxes are withdrawn

Anjuman Markazi Tajiran chief says professional tax on shopkeepers was unjust

PESHAWAR: The business community of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has rejected the new taxes levied in the budget for the incoming financial year 2019-20. They have warned the government to withdraw these tax measures or get ready for protests in the provincial capital from Wednesday.

This was announced by Anjuman Markazi Tajiran (central businessmen organisation) of Peshawar who spoke to The Express Tribune in a joint forum.

The organization’s President Malik Mehr Elahi, Secretary General Shakeel Ahmed Khan and other office-bearers said that after the announcement of new taxes in the budget, it seems as if the purchasing power of the common man has diminished.

They further claimed that the provincial government, particularly Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra failed to take the business community and chambers of commerce and industry of the province into confidence about the budget.

“The provincial government has levelled various ‘benami’ taxes for the first time, while various collection departments are demanding taxes, which is incomprehensible for the business community,” Elahi said, terming the provincial finance bill as an anti-business community.

Property and professional taxes are anti-businesses as are environment taxes, while the process of arresting businessmen across the provincial capital for allegedly avoiding taxes further puts a dent on business activities in the province. He warned the federal investigation agency and the provincial government against committing such acts, otherwise, they will have to face stiff resistance.

He argued that the professional tax should be levelled on professionals such as lawyers and doctors but pushing store owners for it is unjust.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2019.