Federal Board of Revenue should not issue any further audit notice to business community and the audit case of those who have been issued income and sales tax audit notices, should be settled on priority. This was observed by Dr. Babar Awan, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs while addressing a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry who called on him led by Muhammad Ishtiaq Qureshi, Vice President ICCI. From FBR side Mr. Aziz Ahmed Bilour Director General Regional Tax Office, Mr. Aftab Ahmed Commissioner Income Tax and Mr. Hameed Memon, Additional Collector participated in the meeting.  Dr. Babar Awan said business community is playing a useful role in strengthening the national economy by promoting business activities and FBR should not take any step which creates problems for them. He said instead of burdening the current taxpayers, FBR should look for expanding the tax base by bringing those areas into tax net which are enjoying exemption so far.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Ishtiaq Qureshi, Vice President, ICCI said businessmen are regular taxpayers and they don’t evade tax. However, despite filing their tax returns, they have been issued income tax and sale tax audit notices which created concerns in them. He said due to current economic recession, businessmen were already in trouble while law and order situation, power shortage, high utility tariffs and high cost of credit were adding making conditions tougher for them. He said these were not the ideal times for FBR to issue audit notices, instead government should have come out with positive measures for trade and industry. He lauded the efforts of Dr. Babar Awan for taking measures to resolve their problems. 

Mr. Aziz Ahmed Bilour Director General Regional Tax Office, Mr. Aftab Ahmed Commissioner Income Tax and Mr. Hameed Memon Additional Collector FBR ensured Dr. Babar Awan and the ICCI delegation that no more audit notice will be issued while efforts would be stepped up to settle audit cases of those who have received income tax and sales tax audit notices. ICCI delegation thanked FBR team for this positive response and hoped that this step will remove audit related concerns of businessmen. They said business community will not focus their attention on promotion of business activities. They also thanked Dr. Babar Awan for taking interest in business community issues for their resolution.