SIALKOT: Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Dr Sarfraz Bashir expressed great concern on issuance of SRO 351 (I) 2014 and said that it will create multiply problems for business community.
In press communiqué issued here, he said that the business community was unable to understand logic of the issuance of SRO 351 that had created a parallel assessment organization in the presence of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax offices (RTOs).
He expressed his apprehension that SRO 351 (I) 2014 was issued under a well thought-out plan to tarnish the image of a business-friendly government.
He said that shortage of electricity and gas had already pushed the businesses to the wall and they were struggling for survival therefore such measures should be avoided otherwise businesses would be eliminated.
The SCCI President said that SRO 351 (I) 2014 would also create a rift like situation among various government institutions as the powers given to DG Intelligence and Investigation, Inland Revenue, would severely affect the working of LTUs and RTOs
He said that it was very unfortunate that the SRO 351 (I) 2014 was issued without consulting the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the country despite the assurance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that no unilateral economic policy decision would be taken in future. He said that after the issuance of SRO 351 many government agencies would be interfering in the smooth running businesses that would ultimately be hitting the government revenues because the business people would be more concentrating on provision of various kinds of documents instead on expansion of business.
Dr Sarfraz appealed to the Prime Minister and the Federal Finance Minister to look into the issue and direct the FBR chairman to immediately withdraw SRO 351 (I) 2014.