SAPM Assures Review of Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI

Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI; President ECO-CCI and VP CACCI, has informed that
Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) for Industries & Production, has
assured a high-profile FPCCI delegation that the government will review the Tax Laws (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2025 – in the light of apex body’s recommendations to help resolve the profound grievances
of the entire business, industry and trade community of Pakistan. It is a resounding success of the rigorous
policy advocacy endeavors on this critical issue of national significance, he added.

It is pertinent to note that Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh led a senior delegation of the business community to
hold talks with Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan on Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2025; high-handedness of
the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR); tax & tariff barriers in doing business in the country and the issues
of Dangerous Petroleum Liquids.

FPCCI Chief maintained that all chambers, trade bodies and associations have grave reservations and
apprehensions on Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 – as instead of enhancing tax collection;
streamlining the taxation system or expediting the digitalization, it will give rise to avenues of
harassment, corruption and maladministration.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh explained that it is an established fact and practice globally that the more a tax
collector is allowed to intervene or interact with the taxpayer, the more it is likely to undermine that
principles of fairness, transparency and impartiality due to the increased role of human-to-human
interaction and human judgement becomes a nuisance. Therefore, we do not need to reinvent the wheel in
this matter, he added.

Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan reiterated his commitment to playing a proactive role in resolving the problems
faced by the business community. Additionally, he informed that the Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz
Sharif, has given clear instructions to formulate problem-solving committees and advised to take business
community on board in the policymaking consultations.

Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, apprised that, during the meeting with SAPM, he decided to
extend the 6-month exemption granted till May 25, 2025 by another 6 months vis-à-vis Dangerous
Petroleum Liquids on FPCCI’s demand.

We need to define DPL well and resolve the transportation, availability, storage and regulatory issues
vis-a-vis important raw materials for the industry and manufacturing in the form of chemicals.

Mr. Hamid Arshad Zahur, Chairman of Pakistan Tanners’ Association and Mr. Haroon Ali Khan,
Chairman of Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA), were also part of the FPCCI
delegation.