Islamabad, December 29, 2025: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Monday fully endorsed the business community’s planned protest tomorrow against the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) forced installation of Point of Sale (POS) systems.
The announcement came from ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood following a meeting of trade leaders from various markets in the capital. The gathering was also attended by Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran and the Traders Action Committee Islamabad.
Expressing solidarity with traders, Sardar Tahir Mehmood reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to advocating for ease of doing business in Islamabad. He urged the FBR Chairman to engage with representatives of the business community to find a workable solution and avoid confrontations that could disrupt commerce nationwide. The ICCI offered to mediate in the interest of resolving the issue.
During the meeting, attendees condemned the coercive imposition of POS systems on small shops, highlighting cases where customers were forced out and fines of up to Rs 20–25 lakh were levied.
Ajmal Baloch alleged malpractice by FBR officials, claiming that shopkeepers were being forced into underhand deals to avoid compliance. He announced that the protest will begin at Aabpara Chowk at 1:00 p.m. and proceed to the FBR headquarters for a sit-in. Baloch also alleged that children of some FBR officers are employed in private companies providing POS installation services.
The business community called for immediate dialogue to resolve the dispute and prevent further disruption to trade and commerce in the capital.
