The Businessmen Panel (BMP) for FPCCI said FBR raiding teams have been given a go-ahead to conduct raids arbitrarily and unilaterally on any premises without any warrant of area magistrate prior notice or giving the accused a chance of explanation, on the pretext of leakage prior to raids.
BMP Secretary General, Ahmad Jawad said it is the harassment which has created panic among the trader community especially in Lahore city as the discretionary power may be misused to serve their (raiding teams) ulterior motives. This is against the fundamental rights of a citizen and the constitution of Pakistan.
Though business community welcome the announcement of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has halted crackdown on registered taxpaying businessmen with immediate effects while visited FPCCI Head Office on Saturday.
Jawad said Chairman of FBR also assured this type of understanding in LCCI month back but FBR raids was started again and on last Friday FIR was registered even against the President of LCCI on the eve of protest at Brandreth Road against FBR raids.
Business community demanded from the FBR to make official statement in this regard that from now, no FBR raids shall be conducted and only notices will be served if any miss appropriation may find and accordingly FBR will initiate action in the light of laid down rules and procedures
Jawad said on behalf of Businessmen Panel, I urged the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Government to revisit the arrest powers of FBR which was given them in the year of 1992, because such powers may shatter the confidence of the business community and also give a fear to find out the new potential tax payers.
Jawad also said that the BMP also feels to undertook the much required initiative to work on war footing basis on Economic Diplomacy as one of the most relevant issue of the day in order to deliberated ways and means to enhance foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade, particularly, exports.
We must have a coherent plan of action to realize the cherished objective of greater use of diplomacy to advance economic interests of the country. However, we must keep in mind that economic diplomacy has three main ingredients as far as Pakistan is concerned - exploring markets for Pakistani products, bringing genuine investors to the country and persuading Overseas Pakistanis to invest back home in different sectors of the economy. But the envoys or our missions abroad are not expected to achieve these goals in a void and it is for the Government and the State institutions to create conducive atmosphere for the purpose.
However, "the State Bank has been jacking up interest rate for the last several quarters and one fails to understand how we can expect investment when the rate has reached double digit" he said and added Security and law and order are other issues that need to be addressed satisfactorily by the Government and security agencies besides ensuring the ease of doing business, bringing down multiple taxes and simplifying procedures and requirements for setting up of new ventures.
"He also viewed it is imperative that Pakistan needs a simple and transparent tax system to build public confidence in its taxation regime. Simplicity and transparency were essential if the benefits of paying taxes were to be understood by the society as a whole".
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