Mr. HAROON AKHTAR KHAN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRIME MINISTER ON REVENUE CHAIRS ERGIONAL CONVENTION OF TRADERS FOR AWARENESS ON VOLUNTARY TAX COMPLIANCE SCHEME 2016.
Regional Tax Office Faisalabad in collaboration with Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) arranged a well-attended regional convention of members of Traders and Tax Bar Associations from Districts of Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot at FCCI Auditorium, Faisalabad 2. The convention was the most inclusive and broad-based colloquium on the Voluntary Tax Compliance Scheme 2016 so far, as it was chaired by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan and attended by:- i. Dr. Muhammad Irshad, Member (IR-Operations) ii. Mian Abdul Mannan, Member National Assembly iii. Rana Muhammad Afzal, Member National Assembly iv. Mian Muhammad Idrees, Ex. President, Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industries v. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz, President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry vi. Mr. Nadeem Mohsin, President All Pakistan Tax Bar Association vii. Mr. Naeem Mir, General Secretary (Central), All Pakistan Traders Association viii. Presidents as well as members of Trade and Tax Bar Associations of Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot ix. All officers of Regional Tax Office Faisalabad x. Representatives of electronic and print media 3. The convention was opened by Mr. Muhammad Nawaz, President, FCCI who highlighted the benefits of the scheme and urged the traders to file returns and pay tax under this regime. Afterwards, Mr. Aftab Alam, Commissioner Zone-III gave a detailed presentation on various aspects of the scheme alongwith comparison of tax applicable under normal regime and the VTCS 2016 for both the new as well as existing taxpayers. This was followed by speeches from MNAs, representatives of Trade and Tax Bar Associations (Central, Provincial and Regional) highlighting the continuous consultative process between the government and traders regarding the scheme and the element of unanimity and consensus achieved before its launching. Member (IR-Ops) discussed background of the legislation in detail and apprised the audience of the incentives and short as well as long term benefits of the scheme for the traders. 4. In his concluding address, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue emphasized that the scheme offered a historic opportunity to traders for embracing the tax system with minimal tax and enjoy benefits of being filer as well exemption from audit and obligations as withholding agents. He also appreciated the efforts of FCCI and Chief Commissioner, RTO Faisalabad in forging consensus among traders and clarifying certain ambiguities on part of intending taxpayers.
