Shahzad Rasheed
FATA Chambers of Industries leader Khalid Khan Afridi has urged the federal government to provide special relief to industries in the tribal districts in the upcoming budget and reduce the 10% tax imposed on industries in the merged districts to 4%.
Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, he said that due to the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, industries in the tribal districts have been facing a severe crisis for the past eight months, resulting in more than 15,000 workers losing their jobs. He added that despite terrorism, poor law and order, and increasing taxes, no relief is being provided to industries in FATA and PATA.
Also present at the occasion were Haji Amjad Khan of Mohmand Chamber of Commerce, Haji Lali Shah of Bajaur Chamber of Commerce, Inamullah Khan of Malakand Chamber of Commerce, Engineer Arsalan Khan, and Shehzad Arif.
Khalid Khan Afridi said that running industries in the tribal districts has become one of the biggest challenges at present. He appealed to the federal government, the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister, and Syed Asim Munir to grant complete tax exemption to industries in FATA and PATA and immediately provide relief in income tax as well.
He also appealed to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take time to listen to the issues faced by industries in the tribal districts and address the concerns of industrialists. He said that the tribal people love Pakistan and are ready to make every sacrifice for the country; therefore the FATA industry should not be neglected.
During the press conference, he also complained about alleged corruption at Azakhel Dry Port and said that despite paying taxes, industrialists are facing unnecessary difficulties from officials of various departments. He demanded that the government should not impose any new taxes on industries in FATA and PATA in the upcoming budget in order to prevent them from shutting down.
