LAHORE: Founder Chairman Pak-US Business Council Iftikhar
Ali Malik Tuesday said the entire business community including Federation
of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce, all its affiliated chambers, trade bodies
and associations will extend full support to Prime Minister Imran Khan
for broadening tax base across the country to help strengthen the bleak
economy on sound footings; thus, lessening the burden on existing taxpayers.
He expressed these views while talking to a traders delegation led by Mian
Zahid Jawaid Ahmad ,member executive committee of Lahore Chambers of
Commerce and Industry and Jibreel Qamar Butt,patron-in-chief of
anjuman-i-Tajran Liberty .. He said that the taxation and growth should go
hand in hand, and it can only be done through fair taxation system. “If
growth of business and economy will be choked there will be no increase in
tax collection,” he added He said that ratio of tax payers in Pakistan was
even less than Afghanistan, adding the broadening of tax net was must for
strengthening the national economy and for the survival of the country.
He said that PM :must also take business leaders especially Federation of
Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders into
confidence prior to taking a monetary decision and in the process of policy
making to achieve desired results. He said that the tax system should be
simplified and all revenue collection bodies should be merged into one
ministry or body to facilitate the tax payers. This practice will help in
ease of doing business in the country, he said, adding that according to
the World Bank, Pakistan is at 144th number in ease of doing business of
the list of 190 countries, which is alarming.