FBR creating a gulf between traders and govt: pew
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ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday assailed double standards of tax authorities for penalizing business community of federal capital while sparing the traders of Rawalpindi and other cities.
After failing to achieve targets, FBR has started pursuing its tested policy of ignoring tax evaders while squeezing taxpayers and it has started harassing the business community of Islamabad.
PEW chief Dr Murtaza Mughal said that over a dozen popular outlets had been raided with the help of police to confiscate record and computers and cases registered against their owners for dodging tax.
Interestingly, no action has been taken against any trader in Rawalpindi, or any other city of country which reflects mal-intentions of the tax collectors, he noted.
Speaking to a group of leading businessmen of Islamabad, he said that traders are facing wrath of FBR but not a single tax official has been apprehended without whose help no trader can hide his income.
FBR has been tarnishing image of the government that is considered as business friendly in country and abroad, Dr Mughal observed.
On the occasion, traders said that some institutions were notorious for rewarding their corrupt colleagues. They said that there were few local brands which had become popular that were being forced to shut down operations to pave way for the influential multinationals which would not be allowed.
How can we accept closure of businesses that have been paying taxes and providing jobs to thousands, they questioned.
FBR is creating a gulf between the government and the trading community forcing later to take to streets, traders said.
