ISLAMABAD: As the government is reluctant to backtrack from its commitment to implement the CNIC condition, the traders’ representatives on Wednesday announced countrywide shutter down strikes on October 28 and 29.
The decision to hold shutter down strikes was made after the talks with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to yield any positive results. The FBR officials declined to revoke the orders that require traders to present a copy of their CNICs for the sale and purchase of goods.
The officials, however, said that they were willing to listen to the justified demands of the traders.
Earlier today, hundreds of traders staged a demonstration in Islamabad to protest the recent tax reforms introduced by the government. The All Pakistan Traders Association organised a march from Rawalpindi to Islamabad in which a large number of businessmen and traders participated.
The representatives of the trade bodies tried to stage a protest in front of the FBR against its imposition of conditions regarding sales tax registration by big retailers, provision of CNIC and a fixed tax regime for small shopkeepers. However, they were not allowed to enter the Red Zone by police, as all connecting roads remained blocked.
A few enraged protesters tried to cause damage to public property and vehicles parked nearby. This prompted the law enforcers to baton-charge the protesters.
The protesters said that the demonstration would continue until their demands are met, adding that the “FBR chairman should come himself to hold a dialogue”.
Talking to media, the leaders of the protesting traders’ community claimed that the FBR “is not ready to listen” to their demands and that that they “will not pay unjust taxes”.
The traders reiterated their stance that the business community will not accept the CNIC condition. “We pay taxes on the purchase of goods at the factory level and there is no need to document further details of the traders,” they added.
The protestors hoped that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will reconsider their demands and provide them with a fixed tax scheme.
It is pertinent to mention that the trading/business community had threatened to hold protests, long march on Islamabad from October 9 (today).
Despite the traders’ hue and cry, the FBR official claimed that they would accept the demand for relaxation on CNIC provision on purchases of Rs50,000 and above.
The relaxation given to the business community by the FBR for taking no adverse action under the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 and Sales Tax Act, 1990 against traders on the basis of information emanating from providing of CNICs had expired September 30.
