Kayani seeks suggestions from small traders before budget to completely bring them into tax net

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) Minister of State on Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani on Sunday said that the budget will be presented in June and before it he has held a number of meetings with trade bodies and business community including small traders of different cities to seek their suggestions.

In his meeting with small traders at FBR Tax Office (RTO) Karachi, he said that the purpose of seeking suggestions is to bring clarity between the business community and FBR.

The Minister of State on Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said that a simple form will be issued to the small traders and retailers with their consultation and suggestions to completely bring all of them into tax net.

He said that the people do not want to be registered with the FBR. Kayani said that he has visited for bringing clarity between FBR and small traders by seeking the suggestions.

He further said that they want to introduce a good system in consultation with small traders.

Kayani said that duties will be decreased in next five years. A few duties were decreased in the past and this year more duties will also be decreased, he added.

Responding to unawareness of FBR related schemes and taxes procedures, the Minister of State said that 50 percent issue is of awareness of procedures and people are trapped in net of tax consultants.

He said that it is instrumental to make aware the people of the procedures. He directed the authorities concerned to organize awareness sessions every one or two months.

In response to query, he said that the government has introduced Roshan Digital Account app, which is a good initiative and Rs12 billion have been processed under the application.

In response to complaints of raids by Custom authorities on shops and breaking of CCTV by them, the Minister sought details of the incidents and assured the traders of sorting out the issue.

On the occasion, the small traders thanked the Minister for listening to their suggestions, reservations and complaints with sincerity.

They said this is the first time when small traders have been invited by a Minister of State on Finance to listen to them.

The small traders associations said that they are ready to pay taxes under easy and proper mechanism.

The small traders' leaders said that the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in tenures of their governments have always provided relief to the business community.