ISLAMABAD  - The local traders have appealed to the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to intervene and direct FBR to desist from deploying its officials and conducting raids at the premises of registered businesses under Sales Tax Act 1990 as it has created a sense of harassment among the business community.
Khalid Mian, President, ICT Chamber of Small Traders said that the registered businessmen are being harassed unnecessary by the FBR officials due to which many are planning to close their businesses. He urged that the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar should immediately intervene to save the registered traders from the uncalled for initiatives of FBR. He said this while presiding over a meeting of Sub-Committee on Tax of ICT Chamber of Small Traders.
He said traders want to pay tax, but instead of facilitating them in tax payment, FBR has started taking measures which are creating resentment in the business community. He said small traders are united and they will utilize all options to fight against the unfair sections of Sales Tax law, which are badly hurting their business interests. Khalid Mian stressed that FBR should urgently make amendment in Sales Tax law to remove its unjust sections including Sec 40 B otherwise they will launch a strong protest against FBR. He also criticized the turnover condition for mandatory registration in sales tax and demanded that minimum limit of annual turnover for mandatory registration may be fixed at Rs.500-million.  He said if FBR did not stop conducting raids at the premises of businesses, traders would launch a shutter down strike for protection of their genuine rights.