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Business community urges government to expand tax net



The business community severely criticized the performance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and urged the government to expand the tax net instead of increasing more burdens on taxpayers. They also urged the government to make the businessmen and industrialists part of economic policy making process. They said that government should hold quarterly meeting with them to materialize economic policy. They said that the government should give representation to business community for implementation on the economic policy and hold quarterly meeting with them.The business community expressed these views in a conference on "Government and Private Sectors Partners in Growth and Development" held in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms on Monday. Businessmen, industrialists and presidents of all chambers of commerce and industries participated in the conference.

A singing ceremony was also held in the conference in which business community become the partner of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms. The agreement was signed between Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Ministry. Mian Muhammad Mansha is a prominent Pakistani industrialist and entrepreneur said while discussing the budgetary proposals that the government should take measures to promote free trade in country. He said that government should involve private sectors in development projects.

He said that he is largest taxpayer of the government but there is need to improve the tax system. He said that it is dire need to expand tax base in the country. He said that it is also need of the hour to bring reforms in public institutions including PIA, Pakistan Railways and others.

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Mian Muhammad Adrees said while addressing the conference that many projects were not completed due to politicizing. He said that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Shairf should held meeting with business community to address their problems. He said that business community become the part of economic policy and hold quarterly meeting with them.

He said that the government should expand tax base instead of putting more burden on the taxpayers. "The FBR should improve their tax system and facilitate those people who are already paying tax. Our bureaucratic system has failed and there is need to evolve it," he said.

Earlier, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said the government will put the economy on the path to progress to achieve the growth rate of 7 to 8 percent. Addressing the conference, he said Pakistan has become safe haven for foreign investment and this has also been acknowledged by the international institutions. He said the Chinese investment of $46 billion will help attract more foreign investment into the country.

The Minister said the Economic Corridor is a national project which would benefit all the four provinces and others regions of the country. After conference, the Minister said while talking to newsmen that Western route of the Corridor is being taken up on priority basis. Construction of the route began last year and it would be completed by the end of next year, he said. He said it is wrong to say that any road or project under the Corridor has been taken out from one province and included in any other province.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has once again categorically declared that there is no change whatsoever in the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He also dispelled the impression that sites of economic zones to be established under the umbrella of the Corridor are being transferred from one province to the other.

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