Traders should pay their due share of taxes regularly and as a religious obligation because state cannot run its affairs smoothly without payment of tax by its citizens.

This was said by Mr.Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) while addressing a big gathering of businessmen at a dinner given by Syed Qurban Hussain Shah, Managing Director, Ali Builders and Mr.Syed Adil Anees, President, Traders Welfare Association, Melody Market, Islamabad.

He said that judicious spending of tax money to bring a positive change in the life of common man is the key requirement to boost people confidence and to promote a better tax culture in the country. 

He said that ICCI has emerged as a trusted representative body of local traders and industrialists and they should become its members in maximum number to further strengthen its hands.

He said ICCI is acting as a bridge between the government and the private sector while expansion in its membership base will enable it to promote the interests of entrepreneurs more effectively. 

He said due to its good services for business community, ICCI got the second position in the competition for Big Chambers Awards organized by the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry at Colombo, Sri Lanka. He said this is not only a great honor for ICCI, it has also contributed positively to improve the image of our country.

He assured the audience that serving the cause of businessmen will always be the prime role of ICCI and their better cooperation will make this job easier for it.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Munawar Mughal, Chairman, Founder Group said that ICCI played a crucial role in developing consensus amongst tenants and owners for a balanced rent control act. We want a rent control law that should protect the interests of both parties fairly & equally and should not give any undue advantage to one party.

Mr.Ajmal Baloch, Organizing Secretary, Traders Action Committee, Islamabad expressing his views said that with the efforts of ICCI, a new draft for rent control act has not reached the Law Ministry. He was optimistic that as promised by Dr. Babar Awan, Federal Law Minister, he would present the draft law before the next session of parliament for its formal approval.

Many other leaders of business community including Mr.Zafar Bakhtawari, Mr.Syed Adil Anees and Mr.Khalid Mehmood Chaudhry also addressed the meeting.