Islamabad : Like other business communities’ representative bodies , All Pakistan Fertilizer Dealers Association (APFDA) has strongly rejected promulgation of new ordinance which authorises tax machinery to attach bank account of any businesses in litigation with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) soon after a verdict of Income Tax Officer and withdraw amount from it immediately. The business bodies are expressing serious reservations over introduction of the new amendments in the ordinance related to tax laws of Pakistan.
The president had inked amended ordinance ++ PUB -2825 wherein Section 138 (3A) and 140(6A) have been introduced to empower the Income Tax Officer to attach the bank account of a business which is in litigation with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for any reason.
The business organisations fear that new powers granted to the tax machinery through amended tax laws will provide unnecessary authority to the tax authorities who will ultimately bite the business community.
Speaking to NEWSMAN on Sunday by phone from his hometown –Zafarwal, APFDA pattern -in-chief Mr Ghulam Ahmad , said ” APFDA rejects the amended ordinance related to the tax laws as it is going to harm business community and provide absolute and unnecessary powers to the tax machinery to withdraw the funds from the bank account of a business group in litigation with FBR without completion of a process of justice through the court of law”.
Mr Ghulam Ahmad added that the authority entrusted on the tax authorities through amended tax laws will create harassment among the business community. He demanded that the government, instead of providing Draconian authority to tax men, should provide the businesses a conducive environment to help them play their due role to help Pakistan get economic stability.
FBR is already considered as a symbol of fear. Its officials use many tactics to coerce the business community . In the given situation , unbridled powers granted to the tax machinery will harm the businesses in Pakistan. APFDA pattern -in-chief , Mr Ghulam Ahmad , forcefully demanded of the government to revoke the new amendment in tax laws and give a goodwill gesture to the business community so that it could play its role in economic growth in Pakistan.