LAHORE, Nov 17: (INP): The top leadership of United Business Group (UBG) Friday strongly demanded the government to bring at least 3.5 million non tax fillers identified by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) into the tax net who were registered with the department instead of over burdening the existing tax payers besides immediate addressing the bleak economic condition on top priority for strengthening the national economy. This was revealed by central chairman UBG and veteran trade leader Iftikhar Ali Malik, who is also Vice President SAARC Chamber, while talking to a delegation of traders from Gujrat, Sialkot and Gujranwala led by Haji Arfan Yousaf here on today. Abdul Ghafoor Butt, executive member of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry represented the trader delegation from Sialkot district. He stressed the urgent need of revamping tax system in Pakistan. “There is a factor called “Paying taxes”, which contributes in determining the overall ranking of a country in terms of ease of doing business,” adding he said Pakistan’s ranking in paying taxes plunged 16 notches to 172 as compared to 156 last year. There are 47 different types of taxes in Pakistan as compared to 13 in India. The time consumed to pay these 47 taxes is 311 hours in Pakistan as compared to 168 hours in Sri Lanka for the same number of taxes. He said that survival of the Pakistan is directly linked with better economy followed by stable political government. He said that none of the traders in the whole country is happy with levy of irrational taxation on industry. He said that the government should offer special package of power and gas tariffs for rapid industrial growth on the pattern of China. He said as a result of high tariffs and taxation, cost of production is increasing and cannot compete in global market thus badly hampering export substantially. He said instead of burdening existing taxpayers, the government should widen its tax net imposing tax on non-filers. “Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) should concentrate on finding new taxpayers through an extensive taxpayers outreach programme which would be helpful to get a significant number of additional taxpayers,” he added. He said that in this regard UBG will fully support the government. He further said the business community is seriously concerned with prevailing economic scenario hovering in the country failing which traders will be the worst-affected. He said the FBR should collaborate with market trade unions to conduct tax surveys to widen the tax net. Iftikhar Ali Malik said UBG also fully endorsed the demands of the all chambers for withdrawal of regulatory duties and withholding tax on bank transactions with immediate effect. He said that unjustified levies like withholding tax are discouraging the new taxpayers and obstructing the expansion of tax net. He said that Federal Board of Revenue and Senate Standing Committee on Finance should take immediate notice of this longstanding issue that is causing trust deficit between the business community and the government. He said that indirect taxes are being removed gradually throughout the world however in Pakistan these contribute to around 60 per cent to the revenue despite the fact that expenses on this practice are higher than the collections. He stressed the urgent need for introducing pro poor, business friendly, export and growth oriented monetary policies to help strengthen the national economy on sound footings besides restoring the confidence of foreign and local investors. He said that UBG will never ever compromise on interests of the business community and take their genuine budget related grievances to high ups for immediate redressal. INP/AJ