KARACHI: The disappearance of 8000 containers en-route Afghanistan from Karachi Ports under Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement is a matter of threat to national security and an economic concern that calls for strict systematic checks.
This was stated by Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Shoaib Suddle
Some of these containers may contain restricted cargo which can prove harmful for our country, he remarked.
Referring to the Customs Department data, 30,600 containers are reported to have disappeared under this trade and that 25,000 containers which did not even leave Karachi are shown to have entered Afghanistan from Chaman and Torkham borders, he addeed.
In a meeting with the members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here at the Federation House, Suddle endorsed the proposal of "Bill of Taxpayers Rights" as given by FPCCI former vice president and chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Research and Development and In-charge WTO Cell at FPCCI, M A Jabbar.
FTO advised the business community to raise the issue of taxpayers' rights and create an environment and mobilise the legislators for legislation on this subject. He assured full support from his office in this regard.
Jabbar also suggested that FTO should invoke section 33 of FTO Ordinance on resolution of issues between taxpayers and tax collectors so that it can be given a forceful effect of becoming a platform to substitute present alternate dispute resolution through tax statutes, of which recommendations may not sustain acceptance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
About maladministration, Jabbar pointed out that alleged highhandedness, arbitrary and discriminatory actions of tax functionaries exist and persist because of the present tax laws, which need to be balanced for the interest of tax-payers and tax-collectors.
The Federal Tax Ombudsman said he would recommend that the goods cargo under the transit trade if dropped in Pakistan should be treated as smuggled goods.
He said since taking over as FTO, he helped the business community to get Rs 7 billion tax refunds.
FTO secretariat receives around 1500 complaints annually, of which two-third is related to income tax. The highest numbers of complaints are received by FTO Lahore office which is followed by its Karachi office. The work on setting up FTO offices in Quetta and Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa was in progress. FTO liaison offices would be set up soon in eight other cities including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, Sialkot, Abbottabad.
Suddle urged the business community to promote tax culture and that tax-GDP ratio should be at least 15 percent for sustainable development in the country.
He assured all possible support to them if they faced problems or any injustice has been meted out by any government officials.
Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Real Estate Development, Muneer Sultan pointed out that the builders and developers have to pay 55 percent tax on the profits earned through re-sale of land or sale of the housing units in addition to other traditional taxes like local tax and CVT.
Whereas, individuals are exempted from such an income tax on their profits from similar transactions, Muneer said.
The advisory committee set up in FTO secretariat would also be made active within next two weeks, he said adding that FPCCI would be given representation in this committee which would facilitate FPCCI members to pursue their complaints filed with FTO. The complainants can also see the progress on their cases on FTO website.
Acting President FPCCI Muhammad Dawood Jakhura, Vice Presidents S Khalid Tawab and Muhammad Usman Shaikh, former vice president Zakria Usman briefed the FTO on various issues relating to tax and customs.
In vote of thanks, Vice President Muhammad Usman Shaikh assured full cooperation to FTO on behalf of FPCCI in investigating the cases of frauds and misuse of the transit trade facility.
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