MULTAN, August 16th:Chief Commissioner inland revenue RTO Multan Abid Raza Bodla has assured that grievances of all members of APBUMA would be redressed on top priority basis and due representation would be given to its representatives in Advisory Council and ADRC . Delivering his speech at a reception hosted by Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah Chairman of All Pakistan Bed-Sheet and Upholstry Manufacturers Association (APBUMA), Abid Bodla said that we have paid sale tax refund of Rs.900 million among the claimants. He said that he would resolve maximum number of their problems before next meeting and he would use his discretionary powers for the betterment of business community.Chief Commissioner said that commissioner is authorised to condone the delays upto 365 days and it is not correct to say that he is eligible to grant condonation of 120 days only. Chief Commissioner said that he was not empowered to amend or rescind any SRO or law. While all big cases of refunds are decided under centralised system.Bodla has assured the business community to resolve their tax-related issues.He said that efforts were being made to resolve the issued by taking the business community into confidence.Chief Commissioner said that value added sector like bedsheet manufacturers have been playing a pivotal role in strengthening the national economy. He added that all the hurdles would be removed by taking local traders into confidence, besides, resolving their tax-related issues and clearing their prolonged pending refund claims.He also sought cooperation of the APBUMA in bringing maximum traders under the tax net. Bodla added that the liaison committee would be activated further to bridge the communication gap between FBR and businessmen to resolve the issues amicably with mutual understanding. He was optimistic that coming Government of PTI would provide them facilities and concessions in due course of action. He further assured that double deduction would be refunded
.In his welcome address Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah said that there was dire need of removing the ambiguity in the powers of commissioner which caused the development of complications in condonationdelays.Aasim shah stressed the need for simplifying the rules and regulations to provide relief to traders, businessmen.APBUMA chairman said that it was too difficult to provide five year old record for post audit under sectio n 73 of Salex tax refunds.it is a sword of democles dangling on businesses.He said that Government had facilitated the traders by amending SRO 1125(I)/2011 and notified six percent sales tax and two percent value addition tax on import of finished goods of textile and leather sector ready to use by general public.The FBR issued SRO 777(1)2018 to amend SRO 1125(I)/2011 and said that supply of such items the sales tax rate would be six percent.Similarly, the sales tax at 17 percent plus two percent value addition tax on import of finished goods of carpets, sports and surgical sectors. TheirTheir supply thereof will charge at 17 percent sales tax.Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had earlier clarified that all the items provided either in Table-I or Table-II or both the tables of SRO 1125(I)/2011 are eligible for the reduced/concessional rates.FPCCI's Ex-President Tanvir Ahmed Sheikh,Chairman of Multan Dry port trust, Khawaja Muhammad Fazil, President of MCCI Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan, Ex-President of MCCI Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf, Vice President of Multan Chamber Khawaja Muhammad Farooq, Ex-Chairman Of Multan Dry Port Trust, Muhammad Ahmed Chughtai,Syed Muhammad Ahsan Shah,Syed Muhammad Fazil Shah also spoke.
