PESHAWAR: The Executive Committee of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) expressed concerns over imposition of the taxes on erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA), calling for immediate withdrawal of the decision while keeping in view the prevailing circumstances in these regions. The EC also voiced over the prolonged closure of the Torkham border and demanded for revisiting the decision in the best interest of bilateral trade, business, industry and economy. The executive committee met under chairmanship of the SCCI president Junaid Altaf to discuss the routine matters, statutory business, as well as cross border trade hurdles/issues and imposition of taxes on erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincial Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) and others. The Secretary General of the chamber Muqtasid Ahsan proceeded the meeting smoothly by carrying forward all points in the agenda and took approval of each and every one from the house as per rules. Our Correspondent
Participants of the meeting praised the unmatched services of executive member Mujeebur Rehman (Late) for business community.
The meeting was attended by Senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem, vice president Sabir Ahmad Bangash, members of the executive committee Fazal Moqeem Khan, Abdul Jalil Jan, Adnan Nasir, Aftab Iqbal, Gul Zaman, Hassan Zahiddin, Ashfaq Ahmad, Sajjad Zaheer, Saifullah Khan, Shams-ul-Rahim, Ziaul Haq Sarhadi.
Former vice president Javed Akhtar, Sikandar Iqbal, Naeem ur Rehman, Ihsanullah Yousafzai, Sabz Ali, Abidullah, Mudassir Ali, Fazl e Wahid, Ishtiaq Muhammad and Saddar Gul and others were presence in the meeting being observer.
The meeting also discussed the prolonged closures of Torkham border, consequently its impacts on cross border trade, business and industries, urging the government and relevant authorities to reconsider its decision in best interest of bilateral trade and the national economy.
The SCCI’s executive body took a unanimous stance against the imposition of taxes on ex-FATA and PATA and called for immediate withdrawal of the decision while keeping the view in the prevailing situation in these regions.
In the opening remarks, SCCI President Junaid Altaf thanked the executive committee for their cooperation, support and guidance and underlined the key achievements during the last one year under his tenure.
President Junaid Altaf especially mentioned about the current state of economy, business and industries under the prevailing circumstances, stating that the trading community was being faced with enormous difficulties due to inconsistent policies, anti-business actions and the prolonged closure of borders.
The SCCI chief emphasized promotion of trade and business activities crucial to boost the national economy.
Therefore, he called upon the government and relevant stakeholders to revisit the policies and make them business-friendly.
Earlier, the meeting offered special fateha for departed soul of Executive committee member Mujeebur Rehman, mother of the former president Fuad Ishaq and sister in law of the senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem and other deceased of the members.
