KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will not pursue cases pertaining to income tax or sales tax against members of the business community, Chairman Justice retired Javed Iqbal said on Friday.
Meeting with a delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), chairman NAB said that ongoing cases against businessmen will be sent back to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and notices issued to owners of flour mills by NAB’s Multan office are suspended with immediate effect. FBR would continue pursuing the cases.
“The business community is playing an important role in economic development. The prosperity of traders will lead to the prosperity of the country and NAB is playing its role while keeping this in mind,” he said.
He reiterated that the Bureau would do utmost to improve the country’s image which had been damaged badly by the money launderers, and expressed the resolve that such elements would not be spared rather punished at every cost. “However, businessmen would not be bothered.”
Chairman NAB told the traders’ delegation that a special desk has been set up at NAB headquarters in order to protect the interests of the business community.
President FPCCI Daroo Khan said NAB was a people and business-friendly institution and gave top priority to solving problems being faced by the business community.
“Business community of Pakistan appreciates the role of NAB and the measures taken for transparency and curbing the corruption of the country,” Daroo Khan said adding business community was the backbone of the country contributing in economic development, and the same should be facilitated.
In its last meeting, federal cabinet decided to make some procedural changes in the working of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to provide fearless environment for business activities and investment for the revival of crippling economy.
In the light of complaints of business community against NAB, the federal cabinet discussed how the practice of arm-twisting and threatening of businessmen by some NAB officials could be thwarted.
Special Assistant to PM Firdous Ashiq Awan had said the federal cabinet observed that business activities had stopped and the economy had crippled due to the fear of NAB. “It has been informed in a series of meetings, chaired by the prime minister, that local and foreign investment has come to a halt and bureaucrats are not signing files and have stopped decision making due to the fear of NAB”.