LAHORE: The Pakistan FMCG Importers Association (PFIA) terming the ban on imported goods as blow to honest taxpaying importers has urged government to immediately withdraw SRO 598(1)/2022 promulgated recently.

The said SRO was landed on the importers like a bomb which would render hundreds of thousands of people attached with the import business jobless and deprive the government of precious money it generates in shape of taxes and duties on these imports.

PFIA Chairman Anjum Nisar, Vice Chairman Muhammad Ejaz Tanveer and coordinator Karachi Mansab Abrar in a joint statement here on Friday said that this decision was one-sided and no consultation was held with the business community in import business.

They said thousands of companies which were paying huge taxes would be forced to shut down their businesses. It would lead to rendering the people attached with it jobless and generating fear of hunger in their families.

They claimed this sector was the largest tax payer and it was also creating a healthy competitive environment between the imported goods and local goods as local manufacturers were compelled to follow the international standards and hygiene steps.

The PFIA leaders said it seemed incumbent government has preferred smugglers on the legal importers as ban on these goods would promote smuggling. It will also further worsen the economic situation, they added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022