Islamabad, February 21, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formation of a committee to resolve issues faced by retail businesses, assuring full government support to the sector.
During a meeting with a delegation from the Pakistan Retail Business Council, led by Chairman Ziad Bashir, the prime minister emphasized that retailers already under the tax net would not face additional burdens. Instead, efforts would focus on bringing more retailers into the tax system, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also highlighted ongoing initiatives to curb smuggling under the guise of used goods and urged the local industry to embrace innovation and modern technology to boost exports and compete globally.
The prime minister reiterated his government’s commitment to reforming the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and promoting a cashless economy to enhance financial transparency and efficiency.
Delegation members praised the government’s economic stabilization efforts, citing reductions in inflation and policy rates as key drivers of increased consumption and production. They expressed optimism that the government’s measures would further ease inflation and create new employment opportunities within the operational industry.
They also acknowledged that bringing more retailers into the tax net would significantly boost revenue and appreciated the government’s efforts to address challenges faced by those already compliant with tax regulations.
The meeting was attended by Service Sales Corporation CEO and Beechtree CEO Shahryar Bakhsh, alongside federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and other senior officials.
