PESHAWAR: Business community pointed out several anomalies in the existing taxation system, stating that discrepancies have led to higher business costs and a tax burden on taxpayers, called for initiatives to eliminate anomalies and duplicity and make the tax laws more business-friendly.
The taxation anomalies were raised during an inaugural session, aiming at getting input and recommendations on the Fiscal Year Budget 2025-26 from business community and stakeholders under auspices of the recently established Tax Policy Office (TPO), Ministry of Finance, held at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday.
The session was chaired by SCCI president Junaid Altaf while senior members, executive committee, traders and industrialists were present in a large number on the occasion.
Director General of the Tax Policy Office Islamabad Dr Najeeb Ahmad Memon and Directors Ejaz and Naeemul Hassan were the keynote speakers of the inaugural session.
It is noted to mention here that the Tax Policy Office has initiated the consultation from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to get valuable inputs from chambers and stakeholders for the upcoming fiscal budget.
President Junaid Altaf while chairing the session welcomed the holding of the inaugural session in consultation with the business community for FY budget 26 by the Tax Policy Office, emphasizing the need of incorporating the chamber’ proposals in the budget, presenting a business-friendly budget.
SCCI chief stressed consistency, transparency, simplification and deletion of serious anomalies in the taxation system to ease difficulties of the business community. He called for reduction in high tax rate, abolishment of complication and online glitches in the system to timely filing of returns, besides, phase-wise implementation of POS system.
President Junaid Altaf highlighted serious concerns about the digital invoicing system, stating that the business community was being faced with enormous difficulties since the introduction of the new digitalization system. On the occasion, SCCI chief also presented several proposals relating to broadening of tax-base, not overburdening the existing taxpayers, reduction in corporate tax 29 percent, GST 18 percent, stating that it is highly crucial to bring easiness in growth and export.
Zahidullah Shinwar, who is heading the chamber standing committee on Inland Revenue pointed out a number of anomalies in the sale tax, income tax, and anti-business initiatives in customs and asked for implementation of consistent and vibrant tax policy.
Expressing serious concerns over various sections and clauses of federal tax laws, they stated that the system is making taxpayers non-filers, causing irritants and delay in filing tax-returns, and presented proposals to address them amicably.
Haji Muhammad Asif, who is also heading the SCCI Committee on Income Tax, gave his valuable inputs, calling for revisiting the export policy, improvement coordination with the Ministry of Commerce to enhance export, stressed for reconsidering the current sale tax rate and simplification of the registration process. Expressing concerns over growing unemployment, de-industrialization and decline in export, Muhammad Asif said the tax-base would be only widened by providing facilities to existing taxpayers. He viewed export not only bringing a massive forex exchange but it has also contributed to run the wheel of industry, calling for regularizing the trade with neighbouring countries in Pakistan currency.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
