By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
PESHAWAR: Political leaders from across party lines, traders, industrialists, exporters, importers, customs clearing agents, parliamentarians, religious scholars and representatives of business bodies on Sunday unanimously rejected the imposition of federal taxes on the merged tribal districts and demanded their immediate withdrawal.
The participants expressed these views at a day-long seminar titled “Taxes Imposition on Fata and Pata is Not Acceptable”, attended by representatives of the Fata and Pata Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Minerals Associations, doctors, lawyers and other stakeholders from the merged districts and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking on the occasion, Khyber Chamber of Commerce, Yousaf Afridi said all stakeholders were united against what he called illegal taxes and would not accept their imposition. He said the federal government must look into the decision taken behind closed doors.
PTI Senator Allama Dr. Noorul Haq Qadri appreciated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for withdrawing provincial taxes from the merged districts and urged the federal government to follow suit.
He said everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should support measures providing relief to the tribal districts. He termed the withdrawal of taxes a legal and moral demand and stressed that taxation should be rationalized to encourage investment. Qadri also called for the dignified repatriation of Afghan nationals, warning that forced deportations could further increase tensions with Afghanistan. He said an attention notice on the Torkham border closure
The issue had already been submitted in the Senate but had yet to be discussed.
Former federal minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi said the people of the former Fata had suffered economically and psychologically due to decades of conflict. He regretted that despite repeated assurances by the country’s leadership, the hardships of tribal residents remained unaddressed. He said the promised Rs100 billion annual development package and the former Fata’s NFC share had not been provided. He praised industrialists working in the region despite insecurity and said the Federal Board of Revenue(FBR) should be held responsible for its failure to increase revenue instead of burdening poor residents. He also proposed establishing women’s chambers of commerce in the merged districts.
Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Ameer Shah Faisal Afridi blamed weaknesses in the taxation system and corruption within the FBR for poor tax collection. He said rulers were burdening poor citizens instead of ensuring transparency. He urged authorities to visit the merged districts before imposing taxes, saying poverty, militancy and insecurity had discouraged investment. Peace, he added, was essential for development.
Awami National Party(ANP) leader Shereen Khan Afridi said the tribal districts had remained victims of wars and militancy for decades, leaving residents unable to bear additional taxes. He claimed development funds allocated in the name of counter-terrorism had not reached the people and warned of a countrywide protest if the taxes were not withdrawn.
Speakers also alleged that the FBR had deducted billions of rupees from traders and industrialists without prior notice, saying they were willing to pay reasonable taxes but not at the cost of their livelihoods.
Fata Loya Jirga chairman Haji Bismillah Khan Afridi said his forum had long opposed the merger, fearing it would eventually lead to taxation without addressing local problems. He called for a shutdown strike and demanded that tribal people be consulted on all decisions affecting the merged districts.
PPP leader Dr. Sher Shah Afridi said the merged districts had not received their due NFC share and suggested forming committees to raise awareness about the economic impact of the taxes. He urged Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to take up the issue with the federal government.
PML-N leader Malik Sardar Azam Afridi urged both the federal and provincial governments to withdraw taxes, while Shah Khalid Afridi described the Torkham border as the economic lifeline of the region and lamented its prolonged closure.
Torkham customs agents association president Mujeeb Khan Shinwari said peace, infrastructure, schools and healthcare should be restored before imposing taxes. He added that the closure of the Torkham border had badly affected trade and livelihoods.
JUI-F leader Shamsuddin Afridi said continued militancy had pushed residents below the poverty line and questioned the utilization of international funds meant for rehabilitation. He urged the government to understand the hardships of tribal people.
Bara Siyasi Etihad president Hashim Khan Afridi called for Pashtun unity, saying military operations continued while taxes were being imposed.
Khyber Union president Murad Saqi said lasting peace must be restored before any taxation policy can be implemented.
At the end of the seminar, participants adopted a resolution welcoming the KP government’s decision to withdraw provincial taxes, demanding the federal government also abolish taxes on the merged districts and calling for the immediate reopening of the Torkham border for all trade activities.
