POS registration: FBR official’s action helps avert shutter-down in twin cities

ISLAMABAD: The timely intervention of Zubair Bilal, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member (Inland Revenue - Operations) has averted a major shutter-down strike and protest of thousands of traders’ shops in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT) Chairman Ajmal Baloch told Business Recorder that the traders were ready to implement a final action plan against the forced point of sales (POS) registration of Islamabad-based traders.

Surprisingly, Traders Action Committee of Islamabad received a phone call from FBR (Inland Revenue - Operations) Wing to convene a meeting for resolution of the issue.

Responding immediately, Traders Action Committee met Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member (Inland Revenue - Operations) at the FBR Headquarters.

Traders Action Committee informed FBR Member IR (Operations) that the force POS registration of small traders would only increase compliance cost of the traders. The uneducated traders have to hire professionals (Babus) for installation and running of POS system at their shops. The shopkeepers would have to pay extra cost as compared to their profits for maintaining system of POS around the clock.

If a shopkeeper is using debit/credit card machine or QR Code, this does not mean that he would be compulsorily required to be registered with the POS system.

Traders running small shops do not have enough funds to bear cost of the POS system, Ajmal Baloch said.

Zubair Bilal FBR Member (Inland Revenue - Operations) patiently heard the observations of traders community, the FBR has directed the traders to have more interaction and meetings with the FBR to resolve all issues amicability.

Keeping in view the positive attitude of Zubair Bilal FBR Member (Inland Revenue - Operations), the Traders Action Committee has called off strike call of traders, Ajmal Baloch added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025