Policy of squeezing existing taxpayers against national interests:Mian Zahid Hussain.

Islamabad -- President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday said the policy of squeezing taxpayers despite the contraction in the economy is against the national interests. Unnecessary focus on existing taxpayers to increase revenue is resulting in frustration and disappointment which can lead to flight of capital, he said.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that non-compliance by the small traders has made achievement of tax target impossible.

The former minister noted that the economy has contracted from 5.8 percent to 3 percent resulting in sluggish economic activities; therefore, highhandedness cannot help increase revenue. He said that suppressing demand has helped the government reduce imports by ten billion dollars which reduced revenue but also made the achievement of targets an uphill task.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Pakistan progressed rapidly during 60s in which the local investors played a major role and it's not very difficult to motivate them to repeat history.

Other countries should be asked to invest in Pakistan but local investors should also be encouraged by providing them an enabling environment as foreigners have no interest...

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