May 15, 2017
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said existing taxpayers should not be burdened in the upcoming budget.
Tax net should be broadened through proper steps as there is no dearth of non-filers in the country as honest taxpayers should not be penalised, he said.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that existing government has increased number of taxpayers from seven hundred thousand to fourteen hundred thousand which is good but needs to be expedited.
Broadening tax net will generate funds that could be used to financed social welfare projects for which efforts are needed as harassing the taxpayers to meet revenue targets is not a good practice.
Mian Zahid Husain said that the issues confronting exporters should be addressed while the matter of refunds should be resolved on preference.
He noted that provinces have slapped many taxes after the passage of eighteen amendments which has added to the problems of the business community therefore the matter should be resolved by the federal and provincial authorities.
Government is collecting around Rs32 billion under Export Development Fund (EDF) and Rs128 billion have been collected during the last four years but it failed to boost exports.
He said that now commerce ministry has decided to reward officials by paying them allowance equal to their salary which is illegal. Reward should be paid only when something has been achieved, he said.
