After reaching an agreement with the FBR, traders have ended their protest over new tax laws. ISLAMBAD:  After reaching an agreement on the...

 After reaching an agreement with the FBR, traders have ended their protest over new tax laws.

ISLAMBAD: 

After reaching an agreement on the recently adopted tax amendment ordinance, the Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran Pakistan (MTTP) dropped its lawsuit against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) slated for September 27.

According to the specifics, a small-trader elected leadership delegation led by Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran Central President Kashif Chaudhry had been in communication with FBR for the previous few days before the incident occurred.

A final meeting was held at FBR headquarters, where FBR and elected Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran leadership, along with elected leaders from across Pakistan, successfully concluded discussions in which all misunderstandings were clarified for small traders, particularly in relation to the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021.

In a joint press conference, Qaisar Iqbal, Member (IR Operations) of the FBR, and the central leadership of traders officially revealed the decisions that had been reached.

The Member (IR Operations) notified the media that the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance had been clarified and all ambiguities had been removed. After thanking them for their cooperation and understanding, he assured them that all tax laws and other issues would be clarified through mutual discussions, leaving no room for unfounded propaganda or misinformation spread by social media irresponsible elements. He thanked the elected leaders of the traders' community for their understanding and cooperation.

As well, the general population is mislead by vested interests into believing their energy and gas connections will be severed, and their mobile phones will be disabled, according to him. He made it clear that only people who don't appear on ATL will be subjected to this kind of abuse.

He went on to say that this clause was put in place to tax "professionals" who don't pay taxes.

He went on to say that commercial customers of electricity will be unaffected by this provision.

To ensure that the national economy is strengthened and our beloved country becomes economically self-reliant, all trade leaders agreed to continue playing their roles and working with FBR on critical issues connected to tax compliance.