ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
Pakistan Computer Association has expressed grave concerns over the reported act of harassment by FBR’s Intelligence & Investigation Wing of Inland Revenue, against the entire commercial importers of Information Technology.
Pakistan Computer Association (PCA) has said that FBR in this regard has claimed that the agency has made cases against some commercial importers of IT and expanded the scope of investigation across the country. Reportedly, notices have also been served to several leading importers and this resulting as unrest among the community across the country. Hence, as a result of this highly unfavorable environment, various international companies have started pulling out their investments from Pakistan causing serious damage to economy of Pakistan.
The PCA, as a representative body of computer resellers, shopkeepers, whole-sellers while showing deep concern on the situation said that the IT importers have been importing the equipment under the approved ITP; the shipments have been cleared by the custom staff of the FBR.
Likewise, the legal and legitimate importers pay duties and taxes to the government of Pakistan and in case of some technical shortcomings in import procedures, they cannot be treated as criminals and must not be harassed by the officials of FBR.
Mr. Abdullah Malik President PCA Islamabad Chapter & Chief Coordinator, Mr. Khushnood Aftab President PCA Karachi, Mr. Asif Shahzad, Mr. Touseef and Mr. Asad Ali from Lahore, Faisalabad and Peshawar respectively, Mr. Yousaf Jamal Vice President PCA Central, Mr. Arshad Janjua General Secretary PCA Central, Mr. Furqan Murtaza, Mr. Javed Iqbal, Mr. Tahir and Mr. Khawar from PCA Islamabad, in a specially convened meeting, expressed their full solidarity with the IT Community of Pakistan and have demanded the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Shareef, Mr. Ishaq Dar Federal Minister for Finance, Ms. Anousha Rahman Khan State Minister of IT and Mr. Tariq Bajwa Chairman FBR to look into the matter and get it resolved amicably in the greater interest of the country so that the IT can continue to develop and flourish in the time to come in Pakistan.
PCA said that IT in Pakistan is in a developing and growing phase as compare to other regional countries i.e. China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and others have progressed a lot in this area which is very much evident from the growth of IT in these countries. The association has demanded that the directorate of I&I FBR should immediately stop probing and pursuing the so called back log of taxation on the IT sector and the IT sector should look forward and simplify the import procedures on IT.
The association has also urged the Government and Chairman FBR for fix a tax on the import of laptops, like mobiles. Since the computers / laptops are not manufactured locally they are only imported from abroad, therefore the proposed fix tax imposed on them should be the final discharge of liability and no further GST should be imposed in the subsequent selling in the market.