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ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Traders Association on Wednesday issued a threat to protest against the Tajir Dost tax scheme recently implemented by the government with the aim of incorporating 3.5 million retailers into the tax system.
Ajmal Baloch, the President of the All Pakistan Traders Association, announced that the date for the protest would be disclosed during the traders’ convention scheduled for May.
Baloch expressed his dissatisfaction with the Tajir Dost tax scheme, labeling it as unsuccessful. He criticized such initiatives, claiming that schemes devised in collaboration with government-aligned traders are destined to fail. He pointed out the apparent lack of interest in the registration process as evidence of the scheme’s failure.
Furthermore, Baloch denounced the imposition of a yearly fixed tax of Rs1,200 on traders, asserting that it constitutes fraud since traders already pay a fixed advance tax through commercial electricity bills. He insisted that fixed advance tax should not be levied on traders.
Earlier statements from Pakistani trade leaders highlighted that traders are already burdened with paying 13 different types of taxes on commercial meters. Baloch emphasized that the proposed Rs1,200 monthly tax adds to the financial strain, considering that traders already shell out Rs15,000 to 20,000 annually in taxes.