The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has launched a scathing attack on the recently enacted Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, unequivocally condemning the federal government’s decision to grant expansive powers to tax officials. The new ordinance allows tax authorities to freeze bank accounts and withdraw funds without due process, a move the FPCCI deems “unacceptable and dangerous.”
In a strongly worded statement, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh declared that such arbitrary authority would not improve revenue recovery but would instead foster harassment, misuse of power, and widespread corruption within the tax machinery.
“The entire business community is united in its opposition,” said Sheikh. “All major chambers and trade associations across Pakistan have categorically rejected this ordinance. Granting tax officers unchecked authority to freeze accounts will shake investor confidence and damage the financial ecosystem of the country.”
The FPCCI, as the apex representative body for Pakistan’s business and industrial community, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance. Atif Ikram Sheikh emphasized that instead of enforcing anti-business policies, the government should prioritize creating a stable and facilitative environment for economic growth.
“This ordinance is nothing short of economic sabotage,” he added. “Rather than helping the national exchequer, this law will drive businesses further into the informal economy, stifle entrepreneurship, and severely disrupt banking operations.”
Sheikh further criticized the government for bypassing crucial consultation with stakeholders before enacting such critical legislation. “It is imperative that the government ensures meaningful engagement with all relevant sectors before making any law that directly impacts economic activity,” the FPCCI president asserted.
Atif Ikram Sheikh reiterated that while the FPCCI is not opposed to tax reforms aimed at increasing collection, such reforms must be transparent, fair, and aligned with business-friendly principles. “The business community is fully willing to support the government in achieving fiscal stability,” he noted, “but not at the cost of their financial security and legal rights.”
The FPCCI concluded its statement with a stark warning: failure to reverse the ordinance would result in a nationwide loss of business confidence, further weakening Pakistan’s already fragile economic recovery.
