Faad Waheed, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that the MCI is working to make a massive hike in the property and other taxes including water, conservancy charges and waste management fees, which is not justified and urged that in the prevailing tough conditions, the MCI should desist from making any hike in property and other taxes. He said that businessmen are not against the payment of taxes, however, any tax rationalization should be done in a gradual manner and after getting the input of stakeholders instead of putting enormous burden on them, which is totally unjustified.

Faad Waheed said that ICCI had obtained a stay order from the Islamabad High Court against exorbitant hike in property tax by MCI and the court had directed the MCI to charge property tax on the basis of previous rates till the decision of the case. However, it is unfortunate that instead of complying with the court’s orders, MCI is now again planning to make an unprecedented hike in property and other taxes. He said that the business community is already facing great challenges in running the business activities and the people are also coping with high inflation. In these circumstances, making a hike in taxes would add more problems to the business community and the citizens and urged that MCI should reconsider its decision.

Engr. Azhar ul Islam Zafar Acting Senior Vice President and Ahmed Khan Acting Vice President ICCI said that MCI should not consider making any increase in property and other taxes till the case is decided by the court.