Islamabad: The Senate Sub-Committee on Finance and Revenue convened at Parliament House to address pressing issues surrounding the country’s taxation policies and the ongoing transport strike. Chaired by Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, the meeting underscored the need for business-friendly tax reforms and immediate government intervention to resolve the transport strike impacting trade and economic activity.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood opened the meeting by emphasizing the necessity of fostering a conducive business environment to counteract the challenges posed by high energy costs and a complex tax system. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials briefed the committee on recent government efforts to ease tax burdens, including reductions for salaried individuals and exporters, which have resulted in a revenue impact of approximately Rs. 359 billion. Business community representatives, however, expressed concerns over the existing taxation framework, urging for a more growth-oriented approach.

The Committee also questioned the absence of the Secretary Finance and called for their presence in future meetings. FBR officials noted ongoing reforms to enhance taxpayer facilitation. The meeting concluded with a call for immediate dialogue with transporters to resolve the strike and restore business operations.