Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Wednesday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to expedite the process of refunds after business community requested for speedier refunds.
The adviser on finance chaired a meeting through a video link with the business community whose representatives requested for the speedier refunds for providing them enough liquidity to manage their activities. Chairperson FBR briefed that she was personally engaged with her team and business representatives to expedite the refunds.
The meeting was also attended by the Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce. The business community briefed the adviser finance of the current situation of their businesses and stated business community has been facing issues due to global slump in business activities.
Adviser was apprised that the daily wagers and the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector was the worst-hit owing to the crisis. The participants deliberated upon a feasible plan to distribute the Rs200 billion earmarked in the prime minister's relief package for the daily wagers, and labourers to support them in the situation of low business activities in the country.
The participants from the business community committed to take care of their daily wagers with the help of the government and promised to fulfill their social responsibilities in the hour of need.
Shaikh directed that the mechanism for distribution of monetary assistance should ensure transparency and simplicity of procedures that the poor daily wagers may get relief without any complication.
The adviser assured the business community of his full support during this difficult period and said that he hoped that the future was more promising for Pakistan's export sector after the crisis was over.
The meeting was also participated by Dr Waqar Massod Khan, Ali Jameel, Mian M Mansha, Shahid Hussain, Shahzad Saleem, Bashir Ali Muhammad, Ali Habib, Aurangzeb, Tariq Saigol, Almas Hyder, Shahid Soorty, Fawad Anwer, Saqib Sherazi, Tariq Habib, and senior officials of ministries of finance, commerce and the FBR.