ISLAMABAD: Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has expressed serious concern over the sudden recovery of Super Tax from business and trade which would result in ending the working capital of businessmen in Balochistan.
Office-bearers of the QCCI, including President Haji Muhammad Ayub Maryani, Senior Vice President Haji Akhtar Kakar, Vice President Engineer Mir Wais Khan Kakar and others, have expressed serious concern over the government’s move to collect Super Tax following the recent decision of the Federal Constitutional Court upholding its legal status.
They warned that the recovery of large amounts in a single instalment would severely damage business activities and further burden Pakistan’s already fragile economy. While acknowledging the court’s verdict and the government’s revenue requirements, the QCCI leadership emphasised that both the method and timing of Super Tax collection are critically important, especially when the business community is facing severe financial stress due to high energy tariffs, elevated interest rates, excessive taxation and rising production costs.
They pointed out that industries across Pakistan are already operating under intense financial pressure. A sudden demand of hundreds of billions of rupees as Super Tax would not only wipe out working capital but also disrupt cash flows, making it extremely difficult for businesses to meet routine obligations such as payment of salaries, utility bills, and import of raw materials and servicing of bank loans.
The QCCI leaders stated that forcing businesses to deposit heavy Super Tax amounts in a single instalment is neither practical nor sustainable. They urged the government to immediately allow adjustment of Super Tax liabilities against long-pending income tax and sales tax refunds, noting that the non-payment of these refunds has deprived exporters and industrialists of vital liquidity for years.
They further called on the government to announce a clear, structured and business-friendly instalment plan so taxpayers can pay Super Tax over a reasonable period without paralyzing their operations. Such a mechanism, they said, would ensure better tax compliance while protecting industrial continuity and employment.
Warning of serious consequences in the absence of relief measures, the QCCI leadership said that production slowdown, layoffs and closures—particularly among small and medium enterprises in export-oriented sectors such as textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and value-added manufacturing would become inevitable. This would not only reduce exports but also shrink the tax base instead of expanding it.
They added that the cost of doing business in Pakistan has already become unbearable due to extremely high electricity and gas prices, multiple taxes and stringent regulatory requirements. At such a critical juncture, inflexible Super Tax recovery could push many viable businesses toward bankruptcy, leading to higher unemployment and social instability.
The QCCI urged the government to adopt a consultative and cooperative approach by engaging chambers of commerce and trade bodies before implementing harsh measures. They cautioned that failure to provide refund adjustments or instalment facilities would result in serious and long-term consequences, including widespread industrial shutdowns, erosion of investor confidence and further decline in economic activity.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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