PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded of the government to simplify tax filing system and waive additional taxes for small traders to improve the local economy.

The demand was made by the SCCI office-bearers during joint meetings with representatives of various traders’ bodies here on Friday.

The business community urged the FBR to broaden tax net, accelerate refund process and simplify tax filing system.

The meetings held with SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour in the chair stressed the need for close liaison among elected bodies of the business community to take a unified stand for claiming relief in different federal and provincial level taxes.

The chamber’s senior vice-president Manzoor Elahi and vice-president Junaid Altaf were also present on the occasion.

Sherbaz Bilour said the issues of small traders would be resolved on priority and demanded that different taxes should be waived for them.

A large number of industrialists, traders and office-bearers of different associations of bazaars present on the occasion greeted the new SCCI office-bearers.

Prominent among the participants included Ghazanfar Bilour, leader businessmen forum, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tanzeem-i-Tajiran president Mehr Elahi, SCCI former presidents Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Zahidullah Shinwari and others.

The visitors hoped that the new office-bearers of the chamber would play a pivotal role in resolving the issues of business community.

Sherbaz Bilour reaffirmed the commitment to serving the business community and taking up their issues with the government and relevant authorities for their amicable resolution.

He thanked the leadership of the businessmen forum and business community for showing confidence in him and assured that he would not disappoint them.

The SCCI president said that despite unfavorable conditions and Covid-19 pandemic the business community demonstrated steadfastness for which they deserved admiration.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2020