Usman Shaukat, President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), joined a protest camp of gold jewelers and strongly condemned the illegal taxes, harassment imposed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Speaking at the event, Shaukat emphasized the urgent need to resolve issues related to sales tax and point-of-sale (POS) declarations for jewelers. He said that fair and transparent taxation policies are critical to protecting the interests of the business community. Shaukat stressed that the imposition of illegal taxes, harassment is creating unnecessary hurdles for gold traders and affecting their operations.
He highlighted that gold trading, like currency, should be facilitated to help ease pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The RCCI President also called for the immediate establishment of a Gems and Jewellery Authority to promote exports and formalize the sector.
Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, along with Executive Members Akhtar Amin, Naveed Kanwal, Malik Ateeq, and trade association representatives including Fayaz Qureshi, Rana Abdul Qudoos, and Sheikh Asif Idrees, participated in the protest camp. They voiced their strong opposition to the FBR’s policies, saying that continued illegal taxes, harassment could harm the growth of the local jewelry industry.
Shaukat urged the government to engage with stakeholders and provide a clear framework that supports compliance without burdening traders. He added that protecting the jewelers’ community is essential for boosting exports and sustaining employment in the sector.
The protest camp reflects growing concerns among business communities across Pakistan regarding regulatory practices that negatively impact trade. RCCI’s leadership reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for fair taxation and ending unnecessary harassment of traders.
In other news read more about: Workers Launch Nationwide Protests Against Higher Taxes in 2023 Budget
