Random checks for tax returns verification condemned

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

A traders’ convention on Friday condemned the government for its failure to revoke a recent survey and rebate order (SR0-608) under which the government could conduct random checks of businesses for verification of their tax returns.

All Pakistan Traders’ Association general secretary Muhammad Naeem Mir said that the government had assured a traders’ delegation in November that traders’ reservations on the ordinance would be removed once the federal finance minister returned from his foreign visit. However, he said, there had been no progress on the matter.

Mir said that an earlier strike call had been withdrawn following the terrorist attack on Army Public School in Peshawar in December. He added that a national convention would soon be organised in Rawalpindi to devise a course of action for proceeding in the matter.

All Pakistan Traders’ Association chairman Khwaja Muhammad Shafiq, senior vice chairman (Punjab) Shaikh Mairajuddin, Dera Ghazi Khan president Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Nasoha, vice presidents Jan Alam Laghari, Haji Shaikh Muhammad Ali, general secretary Tariq Ismail were present at the convention. Goldsmiths’ Association, Mobile Phone Traders’ Association, LPG Traders’ Association, Chamber of Commerce office holders and traders from Taunsa, Jampur, Muhammadpur, Rajanpur, Layyah and Muzaffaragrh also attended the convention.

Mir lamented that while traders were willing to make sacrifices in the interest of the country, the government which was apparently considered pro-business had yet to do anything for them.

Shafiq condemned the Federal Board of Revenue for selecting more than 70,000 tax payers for spot checks to verify their tax returns.

He rejected the raising of general sales tax on petroleum products and said that instead of giving relief to the consumers in accordance with the price cut in the international market the government increasing their tax burden.

Shafiq condemned the district administration for arresting traders during in ongoing drive against overcharging and said that price control committee was a tool for the government to harass retail merchants. He demanded that traders’ representatives be made part of the committee and said that a strike call would be issued in Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan if raids were carried out in future without traders’ representation. He said that a sit-in in front of the chief minister’s house could also be considered if the government refused to accept their demands.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2015.