BY: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD — Business leaders have welcomed the government’s Easy Trader Scheme, saying it would particularly benefit small traders and help protect them from unnecessary departmental interference and harassment.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran President Ajmal Baloch said the scheme would help small traders avoid corruption and unnecessary official intervention.
Ajmal Baloch said it had been decided that traders would not be subjected to unjustified harassment. He added that traders covered under the scheme would also receive relief from the Point of Sale (POS) system and sales tax requirements.
Khalid Chaudhry said the relevant application would become operational from September 1, enabling traders to file their tax returns more easily and reducing unnecessary interference by FBR officials.
Shehzad Abbasi said district-level committees would be established on the instructions of the FBR chairman, who would personally oversee their performance to resolve traders’ issues and ensure effective implementation of the scheme.
The traders’ representatives urged the business community across the country to take maximum benefit from the Easy Trader Scheme and regularly file their tax returns to help establish a simple, transparent and organized tax system.
