Staff Report
Peshawar: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce has played a disappointing and disgraceful role by silently supporting and facilitating the imposition of taxes on the tribal and semi-tribal regions (former FATA and PATA). This is a highly regrettable, unrepresentative, and anti-public move. It appears that this institution has ceased to represent the business community and is now merely serving the agenda of the government.
In a joint statement, President of the Peshawar Traders Chamber Ghulam Bilal Javid, Senior Vice President Ghulam Hussain Chand, Vice President Abdul Haseeb Chughtai, Spokesperson Basit Khan, and other office bearers strongly condemned the Sarhad Chamber’s role, stating that the imposition of taxes in areas that were constitutionally exempt is a clear violation of national commitments and an outright injustice.
They emphasized that the people of FATA and PATA, already suffering from terrorism, poverty, and underdevelopment, are now being burdened with a 10% sales tax, which amounts to economic strangulation. Shockingly, institutions like the Sarhad Chamber which should be the voice of the business community remained silent on this oppression and even covertly supported it.
President Ghulam Bilal Javid made it clear that if the government does not reconsider its decision to impose taxes on FATA, PATA, and Malakand Division, the business community across the province will be compelled to launch strong protests. He added that when the tribal areas were merged, the promises made to the people were of development, education, employment, and healthcare not taxes, exploitation, and injustice.
The Peshawar Traders Chamber outright rejects this cruel and unconstitutional tax and demands that the federal government immediately withdraw this decision. We stand firmly with our tribal brothers and will pursue every constitutional and democratic path to protect their rights.
The unity of the tribal people is our strength and we will never bow to oppression.
