Karachi, January 28, 2026 – The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to allow the adjustment of super tax liabilities against pending income tax and sales tax refunds to ease pressure on the business community.
Expressing serious concern over the government’s aggressive recovery drive following the Federal Constitutional Court’s decision upholding the legality of super tax, KCCI warned that demanding large payments in a single installment could severely disrupt business activity and further strain Pakistan’s fragile economy.
KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif acknowledged the court’s ruling and the government’s need to mobilize revenue but stressed that the timing and method of recovery are equally important. He noted that businesses are already facing an acute liquidity crunch due to high energy tariffs, elevated interest rates, excessive taxation, and rising input costs.
He said industries across the country, particularly in Karachi, are operating under intense financial stress. Immediate demands for super tax amounting to hundreds of billions of rupees would erode working capital, disturb cash flows, and hinder companies from meeting basic obligations such as salaries, utility payments, imports, and loan servicing.
Rehan Hanif emphasized that compelling businesses to pay super tax in one go is neither practical nor sustainable. He called on the government to permit adjustment of super tax against long-outstanding refund claims, which have deprived exporters and manufacturers of liquidity for years. Alternatively, he suggested announcing a clear and business-friendly installment plan to ensure compliance without paralyzing operations.
Warning of wider economic repercussions, he said the absence of relief measures could lead to production cuts, layoffs, and closures, especially in export-oriented sectors. He urged the government to engage with trade bodies and adopt a collaborative approach to ensure sustainable revenue collection while safeguarding economic stability.