FAISALABAD. Business Community is ready to pay taxes but they are skeptical of coercive taxation system which should be streamlined and simplified on war footings, said Mian Muhammad Adrees, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
He was addressing an Eid Millan Party organized by Sitara Group of Industries which was also attended by Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan MNA, Mian Abdul Manan, MNA and Engineer Rizwan Ashraf, President FCCI among others.
He strongly negated the perception that business community is tax evader and does not want to pay tax. He said the businessmen are patriotic Pakistanis and fully realize their obligation but they oppose the tax system which dubs them tax evaders despite of their contribution towards national kitty. He asked business leaders if they want to pay taxes. All raised their hands and endorsed the contention of Mian Adrees and said that they would never hesitate in discharging their legitimate tax obligations but taxation should be rationalized and made sample.
Continuing Mian Adrees said that government has a soft corner towards business community and it was in this respect that he has been nominated him to head two major committees constituted by the Government. One will take up the issue of 0.6% with-holding tax on banking transactions while the other will work to explore the modalities to expand the tax net. He urged upon the businessmen to forge unity and exert maximum pressure on the Government to accept their genuine demands.