Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Kashif Anwar emphasized that those existing taxpayers, who are fulfilling their national obligations, should not be burdened with new laws.

 He stressed that legislative efforts should focus on individuals outside the tax net.

The LCCI president made these remarks during a meeting with Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, Amjad Farooq, at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The meeting was attended by LCCI Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Chaudhry, Commissioners Inland Revenue Sahibzada Umer Razzaq, Nauman Malik, LCCI Executive Committee Members, and other officials.

Kashif Anwar highlighted the economic challenges faced by the business community and underscored the need to provide facilities and relief to existing taxpayers. He expressed concerns regarding recent government-issued SROs, including SROs 457(I)/2024, 350(I)/2024, and 1842(I)/2024, which have posed difficulties for businesses.

Regarding SRO 457(I)/2024, Anwar criticized the requirement for traders and shopkeepers to submit monthly advance tax under the Tajir Dost scheme. He proposed that advance tax collection should occur annually or bi-annually instead of monthly, as this would alleviate the burden on shopkeepers, reduce legal fees, and streamline business operations.

The LCCI president also questioned the imposition of tax based on rental value, suggesting that tax collection should be linked to commercial electricity meters' actual consumption, with incentives such as audit exemptions and reduced tax rates provided to registered retailers under the Tajir Dost Scheme.

Addressing SRO 1842(I)/2024, Anwar recommended increasing the threshold for mandatory integration with the POS system from one lakh rupees to five lakh rupees for retailers. He advocated for exemptions for single-shop retailers from POS integration requirements.

Anwar affirmed LCCI's support for the government's initiatives to formalize the economy and broaden the tax base, stressing the importance of stakeholder engagement in policy formulation.

In response, Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, Amjad Farooq, assured that the registration process for the Tajir Dost scheme is simplified, with teams actively engaging traders. He clarified that registration under the scheme by June 30 will not incur liabilities, and registrants will receive a 25% advance tax discount. He acknowledged concerns regarding amnesty under the scheme and pledged clarity upon the bill's passage.

Farooq emphasized the FBR rate's use for valuation and expressed willingness to review the provision for monthly advance tax submission based on LCCI's input. He reassured that efforts are underway to minimize harassment and ensure smooth implementation of the scheme, citing significant voluntary returns filed in RTO Lahore this year.

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and other leaders on Monday called on US Ambassador Donald Blome in the federal capital, telling him that the PTI would not tolerate foreign interference in the country's internal affairs.

The US envoy, through the Foreign Office, requested the meeting, the PTI leader said, adding that the political officer was also present during the meeting.

The crucial meeting took place after PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan had earlier blamed Washington for overthrowing his government in April 2022.  He had alleged that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal in a meeting with the then Pakistan ambassador to the US Asad Majeed.

Talking to journalists after his meeting with the US ambassador today, Omar said that matters related to military courts and cases against the PTI founder and other leaders of the party were discussed with the US envoy.

The PTI leader said that he told the US envoy that they wanted the rule of law in the country as it would bring investment.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser and Raud Hassan were part of the PTI delegation.

Islamabad:  Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) senior leader Shehla Raza stepped down from the office of President of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

Shehla Raza confirmed that she had submitted her resignation as President of the PHF on April 27, 2024.

“I have also sent my resignation to Minister IPC Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Mashood, and have also presented her resignation to the PHF Congress,” she said while talking to a local private TV on Monday.

The PPP leader said that the promises made in the government meeting were not fulfilled, the decisions taken in the meeting were not given importance, and the proposal to form a committee to resolve PHF issues was not implemented.

Shehla Raza said that Haider Hussain was asked to work as Secretary of the PHF, but action was not taken on it, the constitution and laws of the PHF were violated, and they all had offered their resignations in the meeting, but they were prevented from doing that as they were told that their concerns would be addressed.