QUETTA: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Dr Mohammad Ashfaq Ahmed has said promotion of legal trade in Balochistan is one of the top priorities of the FBR and steps are being taken to provide facilities to businessmen.

In a meeting with the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) here on Friday, the FBR chairman said that all resources were being utilised to provide maximum facilities to those involved in commerce and industry.

Mr Ahmed noted that in the import and export sectors of Balochistan, the QCCI was an effective voice of the business community. “The suggestions made by its officials and members for the betterment of industrial and business sectors are practical,” he said.

He claimed that the federal government was making all-out efforts to promote border trade in Balochistan. A memorandum of understanding between the QCCI and Pakistan Customs would be signed soon, he added.

Mr Ahmed said the Afghan authorities would be approached for making the Badini Business Gate functional. “They have been given a discount of 5 to 15 per cent, which will have a positive impact on business activities. Our efforts will continue,” he believed.

At the QCCI’s request, the FBR chairman gave the authority of tax valuation of various items to the Quetta Collectorate.

QCCI Senior Vice President Mohammad Ayub Mariani said: “We are grateful to the FBR chairman for visiting Quetta and hope that he will once again come to discuss in detail the tax valuation and border trade with the local industrialists and businessmen.”

The QCCI senior vice president called for early opening of the Badini Business Gate with Afghanistan in Qila Saifullah.

Dr Farid Iqbal Qureshi, Mohammad Ashfaq, Dr Saeed Khan Jadoon, Omar Latif, Mohammad Sadiq, Azul Mehdi, Samiul Haq, Wajid Ali, Mohammad Masood Sabir and others also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2022