SCCI asks KP govt to withdraw 2pc tax on exports

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has expressed concern over the imposition of a two percent tax on exports in the name of infrastructure development and asked the government to take back the levy.

Speaking at a news conference along with traders’ leaders, manufacturers and exporters here at the Chamber’s House on Monday, SCCI President Fuad Ishaq asked the provincial government to withdraw the cess and or else billions of exports from KP would be shifted to other provinces.

SCCI vice-president Ejaz Khan Afridi, Muhammad, Khalid Sultan Khawaja, members of the SCCI executive committee Ghulam Hussain, Affaf Ali Khan, Naeem Qasmi, Ashfaq Ahmad, Imran Khan, Nadeem Rauf, Fazal-e-Wahid, Ishtiaq Paracha, Fahad Amin, Ihsanullah, traders, exporters and industrialists were present there.

Fuad Ishaq said the situation was already serious in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa owing to the government’s “ill-conceived” policies and “anti-business” steps.

He feared the discriminatory attitude of the KP government would bring the rest of the business, trade and export to end. Fuad Ishaq said the government was already collecting various duties and taxes on export consignments and there was no justification for the cess.