SIALKOT - Sialkot business community has strongly rejected the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST), saying that it would ruin export-oriented industries of Sialkot, terming it would also be an additional burden. Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has urged the government to ensure the early restoration of business communitys lost confidence over the government in this regard before imposing the RGST, saying that the business community was not against the paying the taxes but the procedure of tax collection in the country was very complicated and corrupt, terming that RGST would open the new ways of corruption in taxes collection procedure. SCCI and other main trade bodies showed complete unity over the burning issue of RGST during a joint press conference held at SCCI. They raised their joint voice against RGST. SCCI President Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhary termed it a matter of the survival of industries. He said that traders have rejected the RGST, terming it against the larger interest of the business community. They expressed grave concern on the inclusion of export products like leather, surgical instruments, sports goods, sportswear and textile in Reformed General Sales Tax. Ghulam Mustafa said that acute energy crisis has already depressed the economy to almost destruction. He revealed that Sales Tax Refund was not only a painful process but it causes the blockage of capital and opens up new avenues of corruption as well. SCCI demanded to continue zero rating status of exports industries of leather products, surgical instruments, sports goods, sportswear and textile. PRGMEA Central Chairman Ejaz A Khokhar said that government should focus on reviving the confidence of business community over the governments policies that was much vital as compared to imposing the GST in the country. He said that the Sales tax Refund claims amounting Rs 40 billion had been lying pending, as the FBR still remains unable to ensure their payments to the business community and during this nasty situation RGST would prove a last nail in the coffin of the countrys sick economy.