Lahore - Besides ensuring FPCCI role in policy making, simplification of taxation procedure, cut in duty rates along with widening of tax net and elimination of SRO culture are the key points of the United Business Group manifesto for Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI) election.
This was announced by the presidential candidate for Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) elections Mian Muhammad Adrees.
The FPCCI former regional chairman, who is being considered very strong presidential candidate, observed that FBR would also be convinced to tax the untaxed sectors to ensure relief to the tax payers as the untaxed sectors are thriving at the cost of genuine tax payers. He said a campaign should also be launched in this regard so that the new businesses could be promoted in the country.
Mian Adrees, the CEO of Sitara Chemicals, said that simplification of tax procedures and cut in tax rates are long-standing demands of the business community as it believes that the expansion in tax base would not be possible without removal of lengthy and cumbersome procedures that too with the consultation of trading community which is a stakeholder of the revenue collection endeavours of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Mian Adrees while linking high rate of taxes to low revenue collection, termed it a reason to tax-evasion and said if the rate of tax is lowered, there would be a considerable increase in government revenues.
He said that he has already prepared a travel itinerary to visit all chambers of commerce across the country and establish direct contacts with the office bearers and leaders. Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries policies would be framed in accordance with the Chambers consensus and the business community, he added. Mian Adrees said that he along with UBG Chairman Iftikhar Malik are going to visit South Punjab Chambers next week to strengthen their campaign for elections. The next week visit included Sahiwal chamber, Okara chamber, Jhang Chamber and Multan chamber. He informed that more than 20 trade organisations and associations of South Punjab have announced to join United Businessmen Group (UBG) and support S M Muneer and Iftikhar Ali Malik in the forthcoming elections of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI).
These associations include: Multan, Khanewal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur chambers; All Pakistan Bedsheet & Upholstry Manufacturers Association (APBUMA); Pakistan Oil Mills Association (POMA); All Pakistan Solvent Extractors Association (PASEA); Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA); Small Traders Chamber and Pakistan Handlooms Association.
They reposed their confidence in the leadership of United Businessmen Group with the call that all steps should be taken with the consent of the executive committee and other members.
SAARC Chamber’s Vice-President Iftikhar Ali Malik said that efforts would be made to bring true democracy in Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industries through ballot. He also announced that regular elections would be held in United Businessmen Panel after every two years. The UBG chairman Iftikhar Malik said that after the success his group would focus on energy, trade & investment and law and order to drive desired economic results. “Pakistan, like other developing countries of the region, is facing growing energy demand dilemma and the private sector would have to work hard to exploit all resources to bridge the demand.”
He said that the FPCCI would convince the government to expedite work on new water reservoirs to overcome the water shortage.
 “New reservoirs would not only be generating economical electricity but would also be meeting our irrigation needs and above all would be instrumental in controlling floods. We will attempt to convince the government to simultaneously start work on two to three reservoirs.
Elaborating the agenda for the year, the Iftikhar Malik said that an all efforts would be made to get FPCCI proposals incorporated in the federal budget.
The proposals would be prepared in consultation with economic experts and business community leaders with an objective to ensure maximum allocations for various sectors of the economy.
Talking about ongoing economic scenario, he said that tightening of belt was a must to wear off the intensity of economic challenges.
 He said that inflation could easily be tackled by increasing production and cutting unnecessary expenditures.