Capital’s traders deplore licence, tax notices

ISLAMABAD:

A key body of traders in the federal capital have criticised the civic authorities of the city for issuing tax notices against their trade licences.

Traders Action Committee Chairperson Ajmal Baloch said that on February 19, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that the government will waive taxes on trade licences across the country in the emerging novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation.

He added that despite the premier’s announcement, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) had issued tax notices.

Terming the notices as detrimental to the economic health of trading activity in the federal capital, Baloch demanded that the CDA Chairperson Aamer Ali Ahmed and IMC Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz immediately withdraw the notices as per the prime minister’s announcement.

Further, Baloch complained that the civic authorities of the city have hiked the board tax and trade licence fees by substantial margins without first taking them into confidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2020.