Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Riaz Khattak on Wednesday urged the federal government to reduce the rates of sales tax for the KP traders in the upcoming budget.
While heading the delegation of FPCCI which called on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra at the Governor House, Khattak said that federal and provincial governments should take steps to revive the economy of the terror-hit KP. He said the federal government should realise that the province suffered due to terrorism and its economy needs to be revived.
Mardan Chamber President Zahir Shah, FPCCI Regional Standing Committee Chairman Ahmad Jawad as well as prominent officials from Chitral Chamber, DI Khan Chamber, Haripur Chamber, Tribal Area Chamber, Peshawar Small Chamber and FPCCI were also present on the occasion.
Riaz Khattak assured the KP business community that the FPCCI would fight for their rights. He said the KP people had rendered matchless sacrifices and they should be compensated by the government by providing them incentives and launching new projects, especially for horticulture exports.
Secretary General of Businessmen Panel and Former Senator Haji Ghulam Ali said that KP deserves special treatment because of losses it suffered due to militancy and terrorism. He urged the KP governor to set up a tribal bank for the business community of the Tribal area, so that more reserves can be explored through new technology which would also help increase the exports. He also lauded the governor’s services for FATA.
KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra assured that the government would address the grievances of business community and sought the proposals and demands in writing.
The governor said that the prolonged war against terrorism had had adverse effects on the economic and social conditions of the region. However, he said that the economic instability and de-industrialisation would soon come to an end with the restoration of sustainable peace. He said the revival of business and industrial activities was imperative for growing employment and increasing economic activity in the country.
