Unregistered persons: Government urged to defer CNIC condition on sale of goods

Convener of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) standing committee on Sales Tax and Chairman Indenters Association of Pakistan (IAOP), Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, has urged the federal government to defer Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) condition for 6 months on sale of goods to unregistered persons in view of the current economic situation created after COVID-19 pandemic.
Magoon said due to situation caused by the Coronavirus, all payments to exporters have been stopped and export orders cancelled. There had been a crisis of cash flow in the market, which called for deferment of condition of the CNIC. This would help improve the cash flow situation and escape another major financial crisis.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon also requested for acceptance of sales tax returns without enforcing the condition of CNIC as in the current economic crisis, the business would depend largely on the local consumer industry, which was already facing problems due to CNIC condition.
He referred to a statement of adviser on commerce, Abdul Razzaq Dawood, in which he assured that cash flow would not be affected by the coronavirus. "Hence if he wants the cash flow not to be affected then the CNIC condition must be deferred for a minimum of six months so that the business activities could be restored as usual," he said.
Magoon pointed out the difficulties facing the businessman community over the ban on courier companies due to the lockdown and said the original document of import shipment could not reach the banks.