Saleem Mandviwalla assures business community of resolving issues  

KARACHI: Deputy Chairman Senate, Saleem Mandviwalla has assured the businessmen that their issues, including the zero-rating, gas crises, sales tax and others would be resolved soon.

Speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) today, Mandviwalla said he would call FBR officials and other business-related entities to the NA standing committees to address major issues faced by the business community.

The business community would have to play the lead role by participating in all the affairs of the government as it was those businessmen and industrialists who knew the ground realities and face all types of issues, Mandviwalla said.

Responding to concerns expressed on the dilapidated infrastructure of the Site area, he said that it was totally incorrect that the Sindh government has been sitting idle for the last 12 years as various steps have been taken from time to time to improve the infrastructure of Karachi.

However, the situation was not 100 percent, therefore; he said the business community of Karachi Chamber should join hands with the Sindh government under public-private partnership to improve the infrastructure of not only the Site area but also other industrial zones which will not be opposed by any minister.

Replying to the problems being faced due to Sales Tax on Services by indenters, he assured to summon Chairman FBR and Chairman SRB in his office to discuss and resolve this matter.

He further pointed out that he received many applications from all over the country from businessmen who have been victimized by NAB which should not be allowed to take action against the business community as the businessmen and industrialists were already dealing with other departments including the FBR, FIA, SECP and others hence, there was no need for NAB which should keep its activities confined to public sector and politicians only.

Instead, NAB should facilitate the business community of Karachi by opening up a helpdesk at KCCI as done in Islamabad Chamber.

The deputy chairman said that Chambers around the world have been playing an important role in government affairs but unfortunately in Pakistan, no governmental role has been given to Chambers which was unfortunate.