Businessmen in a meeting at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) strongly protested against the poor performance of Sale Tax Officials of Regional Tax Office, Islamabad who are using different tactics to create problems for the business community.

They said one such clear example is the misuse of SRO 555(1)/2006 by the Sales Tax Department to harass the business community.

They demanded immediate transfer of these inefficient Sales Tax Officials for halting such anti-business tactics so that businessmen could focus all attention on promoting business activities without any harassment.

Mian Shaukat Masud, President, ICCI while presiding over the meeting, said that Sale Tax Department has initiated post refund audits of businessmen under SRO 555(I)/2006 against the refund orders issued in 2003-04, which is unjust as the SRO issued in 2006 cannot be applied on cases disposed off in previous years.

He said ICCI has asked FBR to clarify whether SRO 555 can be applied on refund cases disposed off in 2003-04, but lamented that instead of clarifying the matter, Sales Tax Officials are taking unilateral decisions under said SRO against the businessmen.

Mian Shaukat said to achieve the target of tax revenue, FBR should tax the so far exempted sectors including agriculture & stock dividends etc. instead of twisting the arms of existing taxpayers.

He said already conditions are very tough for the growth of business activities and if such anti-business practices were not checked, it will cause the closure of more industrial and business units as these conditions will force the businessmen to look for other safe destinations.