LAHORE: S.M. Tanveer, Patron-in-Chief of the United Business Group (UBG) and leader of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has commended the federal government for introducing a fixed tax scheme for small shopkeepers, terming it a significant step toward broadening the national tax base.
In a statement on Saturday expressing his appreciation for Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani, Tanveer highlighted that the “game-changer” initiative was developed in close consultation with, and at the behest of, trade and shopkeeper organisations.
Under the new scheme, shopkeepers with an annual turnover of Rs200 million or less will pay a fixed income tax rate of one percent. Tanveer welcomed the inclusion of a facility allowing shopkeepers to deduct withholding taxes, noting that a minimum tax deposit condition of Rs25,000 will apply at the time of filing returns.
Tanveer also congratulated the trade bodies leadership for successfully convincing the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to introduce a simplified, one-page income tax return form in Urdu and regional languages. The return can also be submitted seamlessly via a dedicated mobile application, he added.
The UBG Patron-in-Chief concluded that such collaborative efforts between the federal government and the business community are vital for expanding the tax net and securing long-term national economic interests.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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