Islamabad – Former MNA, Senator, and Federal Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi has strongly rejected the proposed 10% sales tax on imported and sold goods produced by industries in the tribal districts and PATA. Speaking at a press conference held at the National Press Club Islamabad, Afridi was joined by industrialists and business representatives from the region who collectively opposed the measure.
Afridi stated that imposing such taxes on regions that have suffered for years from terrorism, insecurity, destroyed infrastructure, and economic neglect amounts to cruelty and a grave violation of human rights. He emphasized that any attempt to enforce taxes or federal policies in the tribal districts would be seen as unconstitutional and unlawful.
According to him, the economic conditions in these areas are already dire. Most factories have either shut down or are on the verge of closure due to the security situation. Implementing this tax, he warned, would not result in revenue generation but rather lead to an estimated loss of Rs. 50 billion, while only collecting a fraction in taxes.
He further added that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) does not even have complete data on industrial units operating in the tribal districts. Instead of imposing taxes, Afridi urged the government to create industrial zones, improve road infrastructure, and fix the faulty power supply systems in the region.
He criticized the broader approach of the government, accusing it of burdening the poor while favoring the elite. Afridi demanded that the tax proposal be withdrawn immediately and that the tribal areas be granted their developmental rights. He concluded by warning that if the proposal is not rolled back, business owners and traders across the tribal districts will launch widespread protests at every forum to resist this “unjust” move.
