Government should take business community into confidence before bringing any changes in taxation mode to avoid any misperceptions.

This was observed by Mr.Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) while addressing a large gathering of Aapara traders. He was heading a delegation of ICCI to congratulate Mr. Ajmal Baloch on being elected as President of Traders Welfare Association, Aabpara Market from the platform of Shaheen Ittehad Group.

He said government is planning to introduce VAT and enhance tax rate for AOPs and small companies in the forthcoming budget, but stressed that such measures should not be taken without taking stakeholders on board.

He lauded the services of Mr. Ajmal Baloch for serving trading community selflessly and congratulated him on being elected sixth time consecutively as the President of Aabpara Traders Welfare Association.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Ajmal Baloch said that ICCI has always served the cause of small traders and highlighted their issues at all relevant forums, which shows that ICCI is a true representative of all traders.

He said ICCI should also take up the matter of promulgation of a balanced rent control act in Islamabad and ask government to resolve residential problem of small traders, which are currently the burning issues of the traders of federal capital.

Mr.Munawar Mughal, Founder Group Chairman said that ICCI has always tried to establish good working relationship with market unions of Islamabad so that all issues of business community could be solved with united efforts.

He said traders should get maximum membership of ICCI and strengthen its hands so that it could serve their interests more effectively. He assured them that ICCI will keep highlighting their issues with concerned authorities for urgent remedial measures.