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Category: Trade & Industry

This section covers news on trade and industry. Pakistan Revenue is committed to providing the latest updates on business trends.

  • No compromise on documentation; PM refuses to withdraw CNIC condition

    No compromise on documentation; PM refuses to withdraw CNIC condition

    KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday showed firm resolve to document the economy and flatly refused demands of business community to withdraw condition of CNIC on sales above Rs50,000.

    Representatives of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) met the prime minister at the Governor House. The entire prime minister’s team of finance and commerce was also present at the meeting.

    The business community urged the prime minister to withdraw the condition of CNIC at the time of sales, which was introduced through Finance Act, 2019.

    Sources said that the Prime Minister had refused the demand and told the business community that the businesses had to be documented. The prime minister said requirement of CNIC / information on above Rs50,000 sales was quite justified.

    The prime minister said that he wanted to see Pakistan grow on Turkish model. He further said that the government wanted to take along the business community on journey to growth.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan told the business community that he had arrived Karachi to resolve problems of trade and industry. He said that the government wanted to ease in doing business.

    Our priority to eradicate poverty and accelerate economic growth, he added.

    After the meeting business community has expressed disappointment.

    Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, senior FPCCI leader, while talking to media said that the apex body had presented all the problems at the meeting that are hampering the economic growth.

    The prime minister has been informed about protests by small associations. He said that the FPCCI had urged the prime minister to restore zero rated for export sector.

    He said that the interest rate by State Bank was on the rise and it would make difficult for industry to continue the production activities. On the other hand the FBR had also not withdrawn several levies on the export sector.

    The prime minister has been informed that reforms should bring in phases.

    Another meeting was held with export sector in which the prime minister listened to their problems. However, the export sector was also not happy to resolve their issues at the meeting.

  • Foreign investors’ perception over security environment further improves

    Foreign investors’ perception over security environment further improves

    KARACHI: The foreign investors have expressed satisfaction over improved security environment in Pakistan, according to a report released by Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on Tuesday.

    OICCI’s 2019 annual security survey, conducted in June 2019, shows that the foreign investors, OICCI members’, perception of the country’s security environment has further improved significantly compared to the already improved security situation recorded in the 2018 survey.

    The annual security survey, conducted among OICCI members only, is one of the critical annual assessment of the operating conditions in Pakistan and is taken very seriously by the potential foreign investors, relevant diplomats and other stakeholders interested in doing business in Pakistan.

    Whilst overall responses clearly convey continued improvement in the general security environment, the increase in street crimes, an attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi, sporadic religious/communal attacks in Baluchistan province and some consequences of the recent spat between India and Pakistan, are also reflected in this survey.

    The 2019 Survey findings re-affirm that security environment all over the country has improved as compared to the already improved situation at the time of the last 2018 survey.

    The improvement in security environment ranges from 40 percent in Baluchistan to over 70 percent in Karachi and Lahore, the two cities where most of the head offices of OICCI members are located.

    The visibly improved security situation has boosted confidence of foreign investors and is reflected in over 65 percent increase in the visit to Pakistan by OICCI members’ senior HQ/Regional management.

    Furthermore most of the Board of Directors and management review meetings are now taking place in the country.

    The increase in visits is a vote of confidence in the improved security environment, although there were also some postponement of visits, mainly due to closure of air space after India Pakistan air encounters in March 2019.

    This is a strong indicator that Pakistan as a destination for investors has improved significantly with less concern on overall security situation. This improved security environment has allowed many foreign business visitors and trade delegations being granted travel permissions for their visits to Pakistan from their respective embassies and travel security agencies.

    Commenting on the survey, the OICCI President Ms. Shazia Syed said that ‘the 2019 Security survey once again depicts that security environment in Pakistan for all key stakeholders, has substantially improved not only for the survey participants, but also for their customers, suppliers and employees”.

    Ms. Shazia further added “Overall, OICCI 2019 Security Survey feedback points to a clear appreciation by the foreign investors of the various initiatives of the government and the security agencies in proactively tackling the security, law and order challenges which had serious repercussions on the image of the country as a safe destination for FDI.”

    The 2019 security survey results in respect of serious crimes like abductions/hostage taking and “Bhatta” demands indicated a massive reduction, led by KPK where 88 percent of respondents have reported a decrease over last year, followed by Lahore with 87 percent and Rest of Punjab/Karachi with 83 percent.

    Even in Quetta and rest of Baluchistan serious crimes are reported to be down by over 60 percent, as compared to last year.

    In respect of petty crimes i.e. mobile, cash snatching and car snatching, also the survey results indicate a downward trend ranging from 92 percent in Islamabad, closely followed by 87 percent in Lahore, 83 percent in Karachi, 82 percent in Peshawar and 66 percent in Quetta.

    More than 300 foreign visitors from OICCI members HQ/Regional offices came to Pakistan during the year. The highest number were from European countries, followed by China,, UK, UAE, US and rest of Asia.

    OICCI is the largest chamber of commerce in terms of economic contributions in Pakistan. The 190 OICCI members contribute about a third of the country’s total tax collections, invested $ 2.7 billion last year in new investments and employ about one million people, besides contributing significantly to the socio economic development of the community through their substantive CSR initiatives.

  • Traders call off protest on successful talks with Sindh governor

    Traders call off protest on successful talks with Sindh governor

    KARACHI: Karachi Tajir Ittehad on Sunday called off its three-day shutter down protest after successful meeting with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail.

    The small traders representing various markets of Karachi city a day earlier decided to shut down their shops for initially three days in order to force the government to accept their demands related to taxation.

    The traders had also demanded the federal government to replace Sindh governor.

    Sindh Governor Imran Ismail in the meeting with small traders apologized for his remarks related to collection of taxes.

    The governor assured the traders that the tax authorities would not take any adverse action against traders for next one month. He also assured the trade community for negotiations on taxation measures.

    At the meeting the trade associations presented their chartered of demand.

    The traders said that they were ready to talk with the chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Till the meeting with the FBR chairman there will be no protest, the traders assured.

    They said that the negotiations with the FBR chairman would be successful and in case of failure the traders would have no other option but to shut down their businesses.

    The trade leaders including Jameel Pracha, Rizwan Irfan, Sheikh Alam, Hakeem Shaikh, Waqar Azeem and others were present at the meeting.

    Leader of trade community Jameel Pracha asked the market associations to open their business on Monday July 08, 2019.

  • Traders announces three-day shutter down protest against tax measures from July 08

    Traders announces three-day shutter down protest against tax measures from July 08

    KARACHI: Small traders have announced three-day shutter down protest in the commercial and financial hub of the country against the changes in tax regime, which are implemented through Finance Act, 2019.

    The Tajir Action Committee in a press conference on Saturday announced the shutter down across Karachi for three days starting from July 08, saying that the changes in tax regime are not acceptable.

    The committee presented its 11-point demands to the government and urged the authorities to withdraw or amend the laws to provide relief to small traders.

    Rizwan Irfan, the senior leader of the committee, said that in case the demands are not accepted the protest would prolong.

    Jameel Pracha, another leader, said that the decision to close down the markets was taken in consultation all traders association.

    The committee demanded abolishing value added tax and reducing turnover tax from 0.6 percent to 0.3 percent.

    Further the threshold of Rs10 million should be given for sales tax registration.

    The annual income of Rs1.2 million should be exempted from income tax.

    The condition of obtaining computerized national identity card (CNIC) should be relaxed up to sales of Rs50,000.

    The government should introduce a fixed tax regime for retailers. The proposed fixed tax should be introduced in four different categories.

    Income tax return forms should be introduced in Urdu language as well.

    Tax audits should be stopped.

    Mobile phone registration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) should be stopped and a levy of Rs400 should be implemented.

    Abolish 10 percent regulatory duty on import of second-hand (used) cloths.

    The Tajir Action Committee also demanded to stop harassment by officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). They also urged Army Chief to intervene in this situation.

    The traders demanded replacing the governor of Sindh.

    They said that the protest strike may prolong if their demands are not accepted.

  • Karachi Chamber demands restoration of sales tax zero rating for export industries

    Karachi Chamber demands restoration of sales tax zero rating for export industries

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday urged the government to restore sales tax zero-rating for export oriented industries as due to withdrawal of this scheme many industries have shut down their activities.

    KCCI President Junaid Esmail Makda in a statement expressed deep concerns over the worsening crises being faced by the industries across Pakistan after the withdrawal of zero-rated regime which has created a disastrous situation for the export-oriented industries and it was a matter of grave concerns that many industries, particularly the textile units and its allied industries have shut down their activities, rendering thousands of people completely jobless.

    He said that the industries have been compelled to pay to 17 to 20 percent sales tax after the withdrawal of zero rated regime, which has intensified the hardships for industrial units of all sizes as they face huge liquidity crisis and more importantly industry cannot borrow the loan from commercial banks at 14-15 percent interest rate which was not a feasible option.

    “If the situation is not timely addressed, we fear that the export-oriented industries will not be able to operate smoothly and they will die”, he added.

    Junaid Makda stressed that keeping in view the miseries being faced by the Industry, the government must reverse its decision to restore zero-rated regime for five export oriented industries while ample opportunity must also be provided to all the stakeholders to amicably settle this serious issue otherwise Pakistan exports, which comprise mostly of textile products, will go all the way down to zero.

    The poor performance of export-oriented industries was something which neither the government nor the business community could afford particularly at a time when Pakistan was struggling really hard to somehow maintain and improve its depleting foreign reserves.

  • Karachi Chamber urges FBR to adjust refunds of previous amnesty’s refunds

    Karachi Chamber urges FBR to adjust refunds of previous amnesty’s refunds

    KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Junaid Esmail Makda, while referring to his conversation with Minster of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar and Member IR – FBR Dr. Hamid Ateeq Sarwar during meetings in Islamabad, stated that after listening to the grievances being faced by those individuals whose asset declaration cases were stuck up due to some IT glitches on last day of Amnesty Scheme 2018, the State Minister and Member IR suggested that five percent tax paid against the assets declared by such individuals can be refunded so that they could re-declare their assets in this year’s Asset Declaration Scheme.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, President KCCI pointed out that KCCI received numerous complaints about unprocessed cases of last year’s amnesty scheme in which although the individuals submitted their taxes well in time within the last date of the amnesty scheme but their cases were not processed in FBR’s portal and to date, the fate of all such cases has not be decided.

    “KCCI has written numerous letters from time to time so that the issue could be resolved and the policymakers have been assuring to look into this issue but no relief has been provided so far”, he added.

    He said that as the government was making all out efforts to make this year’s Asset Declaration Scheme successful, they must look into the possibility of providing relief to such individuals whose cases were not processed in last year’s Amnesty Scheme due to congestion in FBR’s portal or any other IT-related glitch.

    Junaid Makda suggested that FBR should come up with a relevant notification in this regard in which they must announce refunds to such cases so that these individuals could quickly avail this year’s amnesty scheme.

    He was fairly optimistic that keeping in view the government’s seriousness towards the Ease of Doing Business, the FBR would look into this matter and accordingly announce relief for such individuals as per commitment which would encourage many others to come forward to participate in this year’s Asset Declaration Scheme.

    He was of the opinion that although the last date for Asset Declaration Scheme has been extended for three more days but it was not suffice and the government must extend it for at least 30 more days so that maximum number of people could avail this scheme which would prove beneficial for the national exchequer. “The business community remained heavily engaged in identifying budget anomalies, leaving a very little time to examine and look into the possibility of benefitting from Asset Declaration Scheme whose deadline has to be extended”, he added.

  • Income from Dubai-based properties declarable, not taxable in Pakistan: FBR

    Income from Dubai-based properties declarable, not taxable in Pakistan: FBR

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that income generated from Dubai-based properties is declarable but not chargeable to tax in Pakistan.

    Replying to query raised by business community at a seminar organized by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Asset Declaration Ordinance, 2019, said a statement on Friday.

    In a query about rental income originated from Dubai-based properties IR CRTO team replied that double taxation treaty overwrote the domestic law and the UAE clearly stated that tax on rental income is charged by the country where income is originated hence rental income from Dubai-based properties are declarable but not chargeable in Pakistan.

    During the awareness session, the IRS CRTO team led by its Chief Commissioner Shafqat Ali Kehar and consisting of Maqsood Jehangir, Commissioner IR Zone-IV, CRTO and Kashif Hafeez, Additional Commissioner IR Zone IV CRTO Karachi, made a multimedia presentation and elaborated salient features of the Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019 and gave replies to various queries, ambiguities etc., as raised by the participants.

    Regarding a query on Power of Attorney, it was replied that all immovable properties, which were transferred on power of attorney, would be declared as Benami property under the ADO, 2019 as the objective of the Scheme was to allow inclusion of non-documented economy in taxation system and to promote economic revival and growth by encouraging tax compliance.

    The IR Team informed, “ADO, 2019 has been announced with the aim not to generate revenue but to document the economy in the background of Financial Action Task Force (FATF); revival and growth of economy through tax compliance.

    The Team added, “ADO, 2019 is also applicable in undisclosed Assets and expenditures and sales and provides immunity from proceeding Under Section 111 of ITO 2011; the deadline will not be extended beyond 30-06-2019 ; tax can be paid in installment subject to default surcharge; Gold Jewelry, bearer prize bonds, securities, etc., are not required to declare, open plots, local immovable property etc., can be declared at higher cost of acquisition or 150 percent of FBR value or 150 percent of DC Value ; availability of carry forward facility of stock on 30-06-2018 to 2018-19 etc.

    Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President (FPCCI) hailed the Asset Declaration Ordinance (ADO), 2019 and termed it as a right step in the right direction with the objective to bring the tax evaders under the tax net; enhancing the country’s revenue base; documentation of economy; arresting the size of ever increasing black economy; mobilize resources and to bring dead assets in the mainstream of economy and make them functional.

    He recalled that during the past six years, tax-to-GDP ratio has hovered between 9 percent in 2013-14 and 11.4 percent in 2017-18 to 10.8 percent in the current year 2018-19

    The FPCCI Chief hoped that the government efforts to raise tax-to-GDO ratio to 12.6 percent in the next year (2019-20); documentation of economy and broadening of tax base would yield fruitful results as no economy can function without sufficient revenue collection and its thin tax base consisting of about two million assessees or 1 percent of total population has resulted in higher tax rates which provides sufficient incentive for tax evasion and corruption.

    The FPCCI President informed that the ADO, 2019 had granted special treatment to the real estate sector and appealed to take advantage of tax amnesty scheme and document benami/ undeclared/ under-declared property and concede assets against concessionary tax payments.

    The participants expressed their problem in filing of asset declarations due to non / partial functioning of FBR’s portal (IRIS).

    They proposed for allowing Provisional Declaration of Assets by 30th June, 2019 and elaborated that the Scheme was announced only 45 days ago and as such the declarants who are not in a position to deposit cash due to liquidity crunch and filed declaration before 30-06-2019 may be treated as provisional and the assessees may be allowed to deposit the cash in bank accounts within 90 days.

    They also proposed that at least 15 days may be allowed to incorporate or feed the declaration data in relevant Income Tax and Sales Tax Returns / profiles particularly when IRIS is not fully operationals and as such it will not affect at all the last date of declaration of assets.

  • Finance Bill 2019: tax officials granted powers to enter premises for gold, prize bonds; KCCI opposes

    Finance Bill 2019: tax officials granted powers to enter premises for gold, prize bonds; KCCI opposes

    KARACHI: The Finance Bill 2019 has proposed discretionary powers to Commissioner Inland Revenue to enter and search any premises for undeclared gold and prize bonds.

    Under Section 175 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 such powers have already with the commissioners but the proposal intended to expand the power to include gold and bearer security.

    Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opposed strongly to this recommendations saying that this is against the dignity granted to an individual as per the Article 14 of the Constitution and would tantamount to violation of sanctity of residential premises, if raided.

    A research report of the KCCI said that raiding of homes and subsequent breach of privacy is against national cultural norms and is an idea uncalled for, having grave social repercussions.

    “This proposal is also against the spirit of withdrawal of discretionary powers of the taxman.”

    The Asset Declaration Scheme 2019 also does not allow declaration of gold, precious stones, bearer security and bearer prize bonds, thereby restricting a holder of such assets from declaring them before probable confiscation. Any such measure before allowance of declaration makes this a very harsh measure.

    Such sweeping discretionary powers granted to the Commissioner would result in harassment to ordinary citizens including housewives and the elderly, as now raids could be made on homes as well, and by no means should be allowed to be confiscated.

    Hence, this proposal should be removed from the budget. Further, the Asset Declaration Scheme 2019 should be amended to include declaration of gold and bearer securities.

  • Prime Minister assures business community of considering sales tax zero rating

    Prime Minister assures business community of considering sales tax zero rating

    KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured business community of considering restoration of sales tax zero rating for export sector.

    A delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday in Islamabad to discuss anomalies in the Finance Bill 2019.

    On FPCCI demand of restoration of SRO 1125(I)/2011 allowing five export oriented export sectors at zero rate, the prime minister assured to consider it sympathetically, said a statement issued by the FPCCI.

    The FPCCI delegation was led by S.M. Muneer, leader of the business community and Former Chief Executive TDAP and Former President, FPCCI and consisting of Aqil Karim Dhedi; Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President, FPCCI and Zubair F. Tufail, Convener of the FPCCI Budget Advisory Council – held a detailed meeting with the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the PM on Finance which lasted for 2 hours and discussed / briefed them about the hardships of the business community emanated from some harsh measures of the Finance Bill, 2019 that would give serious blow to trade and industry, especially export sector in the wake of exorbitant policy rate of 12.25 percent coupled with the massive devaluation of Pak-Rupee versus dollar in the last few months withdrawal of zero rated regime from export industrial sectors etc.

    The FPCCI delegation particularly emphasized and discussed ten major demands out of which eight proposals have been accepted by the Prime Minister, the major one such as doing away with raid on any premises; reduction in tax rates for service sector; routing taxation and business related policy through Federal Government/Cabinet instead of FBR, as directed by the Supreme Court; lack of personal interaction and minimal possibility of abuse of discretionary powers by the tax officials; conduction of audit once in a three years etc.

    Moreover the issues of retailers, wholesalers and real estates were also discussed in details.

  • Small traders decide to strongly resist FBR’s raids

    Small traders decide to strongly resist FBR’s raids

    KARACHI: Small traders have decided to resist strongly any move of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to raid markets and business premises.

    An emergent meeting of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad on Wednesday rejected enforcement plan of the tax machinery to raid markets and shopping centers for identifying new taxpayers.

    “The trade community will resist strongly against any raids and all such places will be made ‘no go areas’ for FBR officials,” it is decided at the meeting.

    Atiq Mir, leader of the trade community, said that the tax system of the country cannot be changed overnight.

    He said that the trade community would strongly protest against the corrupt officials of the FBR. “The government is not using tax money for development but it is used for debt repayment and interest payment,” he added.

    Other participants have suggested reforms in the present tax system. The present tax system is promoting corruption and giving further discretionary powers to tax officials would make the tax system more complicated.

    The traders suggested that the tax exempt income should be increased from Rs400,000 to Rs1.5 million. Further the turnover for sales tax registration requirement should be enhanced from Rs5 million to Rs50 million.

    The e-filing of returns should be restricted to limited companies. They said that the random audit was promoting corruption, which should be either abolished or replaced with a better system.

    They suggested that essential items should be exempted from sales tax.

    The traders assured the government that if their demands are accepted then not only revenue would increase but around one million return filers would also come into tax net.