'Higher property tax to harm business'.

PESHAWAR -- The representatives of traders, including Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Maqsood Anwar, have flayed the issuance of notices to businesspersons for the payment of property tax at higher rates and warned that the government's move would harm business.

During a meeting on the SCCI premises here on Friday, they said they're already heavily taxed, so higher property tax was unacceptable to them.

The traders said the government didn't support the business community.

Mr Anwar said higher property tax would create mistrust between the government and traders and thus, creating problems for the government to increase its revenue base.

He said the traders protested the imposition of excessive taxes but the excise department ignored the protest and issued notices to the businesspersons regarding exorbitant property tax.

The SCCI president alleged that the government was harassing the business community to enhance its revenue base but such tactics would increase the gulf between the government and traders.

He demanded action against the relevant officials over higher property tax notices.

Mr Anwar said the excise and taxation department didn't take the chamber and relevant stakeholders into confidence before deciding about increase in property tax, so the move was unjust...