ISLAMABAD: A timely intervention by Zubair Bilal, Member Inland Revenue (Operations) at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has helped avert a major shutter-down strike planned by traders in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT) Chairman Ajmal Baloch told Business Recorder that traders were prepared to launch a final protest against what they described as the forced registration of Islamabad-based shopkeepers under the point of sale (POS) system.
In an unexpected development, the Traders Action Committee received a phone call from the FBR’s Inland Revenue (Operations) Wing, inviting them to a meeting to resolve the issue. The committee promptly met Member IR (Operations) at FBR Headquarters.
During the meeting, traders expressed concerns that compulsory POS registration for small shopkeepers would significantly raise their compliance costs. They argued that many uneducated traders would be forced to hire professionals to install and operate POS systems, resulting in expenses far exceeding their modest profits. They further noted that the use of debit/credit card machines or QR Code payments should not automatically necessitate POS registration.
APAT Chairman Ajmal Baloch emphasised that small traders lack the financial capacity to bear these additional costs.
Zubair Bilal listened to the traders’ concerns and encouraged continued dialogue to reach an amicable solution. Following his positive and cooperative approach, the Traders Action Committee announced that the planned shutter-down strike had been called off.
