Islamabad - FPCCI was working on a mechanism to improve country’s tax revenue by involving Chambers of Commerce & Industry of the country in collection of income tax from small traders, observed Mian Muhammad Adrees, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
He said the mechanism, if implemented, would end the interaction between small traders and tax machinery and would be helpful in broadening tax base as traders would feel more confident to pay tax through their representative bodies. He stressed that all businessmen earning taxable income should pay tax as no country could develop and progress without growing tax revenue.  
He said FPCCI has finalised annual exhibition plan and was looking for partners from all over the world to organise effective exhibitions in foreign countries for promoting country’s trade and exports. He said that exhibitions would be organised purely on merit-based system and in a transparent manner to provide opportunities to genuine businessmen.
He said FPCCI was working to review key economic policies including monetary, fiscal, trade policies and input of business community would be obtained to address their concerns. He said FPCCI was organising a conference on 23rd February 2015 involving renowned economists, think tanks and journalists to develop proposals for economic revival of the country. He assured that FPCCI would take all trade bodies on board regarding strategic decisions to finalize consensus proposals for the government for better growth of business activities.  In his welcome address, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the President FPCCI on various issues of business community with the request that FPCCI should play its role for their resolution.
It was pointed out that government had assured to withdraw SRO-608 but no action was taken as yet and FPCCI should take up this matter with relevant authorities to address business community concerns.
Abdul Rauf, Chairman Founder Group and United Business Group North Zone also highlighted many issues being faced by local traders and industrialists and offered proposals to address them. He said Mian Adrees was a great asset for the country and hoped that under his leadership, FPCCI would become more effective apex trade body to resolve the issues of business community of the country and promote economic interests of the country.
ICCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Shakeel Munir, Vice President Muhammad Ashfaq Chatha, FPCCI Vice President Mian Akram Farid, former President Zubair Ahmed Malik, ICCI former Presidents Khalid Javed & Mian Shaukat Masud as well as Khalid Chaudhry, Tahir Abbasi, Shahid Zaman Shinwari, Saeed Ahmed Bhatti and others were also present at the occasion.