KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh has said that under Tajir Dost Scheme, small traders and shopkeepers are being served notices for submitting a hefty tax of Rs 60,000 every month, which is not affordable at all for any shopkeeper.

In statement, he stressed Federal Board of Revenue must be directed to immediately withdraw all notices whereas implementation of Tajir Dost Scheme must be deferred for at least three months. He appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to realise hardships being faced by shopkeepers, while FBR must be refrained from demanding such an unrealistic tax. “KCCI completely rejects all such actions being taken under Tajir Dost Scheme, which is not friendly at all, therefore, its implementation must be postponed until it is actually made friendly scheme after consultation with business community.” He said it seemed that tax officials were trying to make Tajir Dost Scheme failure as notices were being served to everyone including registered and non-registered individuals. He said the Tajir Dost Scheme, which was marred with serious flaws, needed to be revisited in consultation with all stakeholders so that perturbed shopkeepers, who were already battling for survival at time of high inflation, could be saved from disaster.