Traders divide over countrywide strike call
Islamabad – Trader groups divided over the issue of countrywide protest against Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance, where Tanzim Tajiran Pakistan has postponed the strike scheduled for today (Monday) while the All Pakistan Anjaman-e-Tajiran announced besiege of FBR on September 29.
A group of traders representing Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran has postponed their strike call for today (Monday) after the successful talks between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and traders representatives here.
However, other traders group known as All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran led by Ajmal Baloch has termed the claim of FBR regarding the postponement of the strike a lie and has announced that they will protest and besiege of FBR on September 29.
Earlier on the Sunday morning, officials of the FBR and a group of traders have announced that talks between FBR and Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, Pakistan remained successful after the Board’s assurance that the FBR’s new amended bill regarding tax on electricity tariff was not applicable to small traders FBR and traders reach agreement and the protest has been postponed, officials of the FBR and representatives of the Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran announced in a joint press conference here on Sunday.
It pertinent mention here that as a protest against the presidential ordinance to impose new taxes and forcing sales tax registration of traders, the traders had announced to hold protest on September 27. To resolve the issue, a delegation of small traders led by Kashif Chaudhry, Central President Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, Pakistan held meeting with the officials of FBR regarding the concerns of small traders, especially with reference to Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021.
Qaisar Iqbal, member operations FBR, informed the media that all confusions and misunderstandings of small traders on the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance were removed. He assured them that all issues regarding tax laws and any other confusion shall be clarified by mutual discussions, leaving no space for unfounded propaganda or misinformation spread by irresponsible elements on social media. Qaisar Iqbal said that there was misconception among the traders regarding the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021, which has been removed.
He said that amended ordinance was not meant for small traders and no tax will be imposed on their electricity bills. Similarly the Point of Sale (PoS) clause of the ordinance is also not applicable to small traders.
Member operations categorically stated that PoS did not pertain to small traders. While clarifying Section 114B of the Income Tax Ordiance-2001, he further informed that the general public is being misled by vested groups leading to believe that their electricity and gas connections will be disconnected and their mobile phones disabled. He clarified that only those persons who are not appearing on ATL will face this treatment.
While giving clarification of sub-section (1A) of section 235 of the Income Tax, 2001, member IR operations stated that the change in rate of advance tax on electricity bill as introduced in the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021 will neither affect small traders nor any other person who is income tax filer. He further explained that this provision had been introduced for bringing non-tax paying “Professionals” in the tax net. He also added that this provision will not affect commercial consumers of electricity.
Member operations FBR further elaborated that this tax will be imposed on the professional people, who are practicing from home and are not registered in tax net.
He said that a committee has been constituted to remove the concern of the traders. All the chief commissioners have been directed to remove the reservations of the traders of their respective areas with mutual consultations.
Kashif Chaudhry, Central President Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, Pakistan while taking to media on the occasion said that the traders’ talks with the FBR had reached a logical conclusion which was very encouraging. The call for protest and march towards FBR, on September 27 is now postponed, he added.
All the misgivings the traders in regard to the FBR have been removed, Kashif informed. “We have been assured that the point of sale clause is not meant for small traders, he added. It was also assured that no tax will be imposed on the commercial power bills, Kashif said.
Kashif Chaudhry said that all the misunderstandings and confusions pertaining to Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021 were clarified.
He said that it has been agreed that the culture of blackmailing and harassment of traders will come to an end and the already existing committees will be made functional.
However, on Sunday evening, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran led by Ajmal Baloch has announced that the other trader group (Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran) who has announced ending the strike is B team of the FBR. The drop scene of September 27, 2021, dharna is occurred with the connivance of FBR, he said. The so-called traders group doesn’t have the power to hold the dharna and that’s why they have announced its postponement, he alleged.
He announced the siege of FBR on September 29, and said that the protest will continue till the withdrawal of the law regarding installation of PoS and limit the sales tax law to importers and manufacturers only.
Article source: https://nation.com.pk/27-Sep-2021/traders-divide-over-countrywide-strike-call