Karachi: Presidents of all chambers of commerce and industry across Pakistan on Thursday termed the federal budget 2015-16 as anti-business and threatened to go on strike if the government fails to meet their demands.
During the All Pakistan Chambers’ Post-Budget Conference held in Islamabad, they said the budgetary measures would empower taxmen to harass businessmen.
They urged the government to immediately repeal imposition of 0.6 per cent withholding tax on banking transactions, sales tax registered individuals and Associations of Persons (AOPs) which were made income tax withholding agents in 2013, SRO 608 along with its sub-section 214(D), whistle blower clauses 177 and 227(B).
The conference evolved a strategy to go on strike if the demands are not met, according to the KCCI’s press release.
On imposition of 0.6pc withholding tax, representatives of business community said the government should explain filer and non-filer before imposing such a huge tax.
“This tax would not generate much in revenue but hurt the business community.”
They offered to sit with the government to identify avenues to improve revenue collection.
Presidents and representatives of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), and chambers of Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Haripur, Chakwal etc along with presidents of traders associations from various parts of the country attended the conference.
