ISLAMABAD - Traders have once again staged protest and sit-in here in Islamabad against the policies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) including installation of point-of-sale machines at businesses.
Traders had earlier announced to stage sit-in outside the Prime Minister secretariat. However, they held their protest at Sarena Chowk, entrance of red-zone, after security officials did not allow them to go to Prime Minister Secretariat. Police has placed containers to restrict the entry of traders into red zone. Later, they ended their sit in and decided to announce future strategy in next month.
Traders have once again asked the government to withdraw its decisions including installation of point-of-sale machines at businesses, registration of sales tax and others to save the businesses. They criticized the economic team and FBR for their policies.
Addressing the protest, President of Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Ajmal Baloch said that traders would announce their next strategy on January 13 2022. He said that business community as well as common people are suffering due to the economic policies of the incumbent government. He further said that Covid-19 had already ruined the businesses. He once again strongly criticized the installation of point-of-sale machines and the Presidential Ordinance which provides for penalties if traders refuse to install the POS devices.
Ajmal Baloch said the government had no valid reason for installing POS machines. He asked the FBR to install POS machines at import stage, factories, shopping malls or chain stores instead of installing it at small shops. The government should avoid the sales tax registration of small business holders. He said that government should impose fixed tax, which was approved by former finance minister Asad Umar from the National Assembly. However, International Monetary Fund (IMF) had opposed it, he added.
He demanded of the government to close down the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Other leaders said that government is not interested in resolving the issues related to the business community. They threatened for countrywide strike against the FBR’s policies. They have also demanded for not announcing mini budget in the current situation wherein people are facing higher inflation rate.
The government in September this year had promulgated Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance 2021. The traders said they planned to resist the government move. Traders from different cities are protesting against the policies of the FBR. Traders had already staged a sit-in at Islamabad’s Faizabad in October this year to protest the FBR’s plan to install integrated Point of Sale (POS) machines at businesses. They had also protested outside the FBR Headquarter in September this year.