LAHORE: The All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran led by Naeem Mir group on Wednesday urged the opponents of advance withholding tax on banking transactions not to sabotage the positive outcome of talks earlier held with the government and withdraw shutter-down strike call as it would only divide the business community and damage their interests.

APAT`s Central General Secretary Naeem Mir speaking at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club appealed to the traders body of Khalid Pervez group to withdraw the strike call of Aug 5 because the government had started implementing the agreement reached between the Federal Board of Revenue and all groups of traders including Mr Pervez.

Mir said APAT was the first whoraised voice against 0.6 per cent tax and `our strong protest forced the government to hold talks.

He claimed that the representatives of traders group who held negotiations with the commerce ministry included APAT Central President Ajmal Baloch, General Secretary Naeem Mir, Punjab President Mehboob Sirki, Sheikh Siddig (Khalid Pervaiz group`s Rawalpindi president), FPCCI President Mian Adrees, Afzal Khan, Mian Abdul Mannan and all chambers presidents.

Mr said the government agreed with the demand of traders to abolish the prevalent income tax system for traders, implementing turnover tax for them to the maximum ratio of 0.25pc.

He said the turnover tax would be agreed according to various trades and sectors between trade bodies and FBR, adding under the agreement, the turnover tax, currently at 1pc,had been agreed to be reduced according to various sectors which is a major concession.

The APAT leader of his own faction claimed that the business community was satisfied with the outcome of talks. He claimed that all businessmen who were non-filers would become filers in the next three months.

Mir said they disassociated it from the strike call, saying a country-wide convention of traders to be held in Lahore on July 24 would decide the future course of action af ter consultation with trade bodies.

`Khalid Pervez must avoid dividing traders as his previous strike call on July 7 also proved to be a failure, he said.

He claimed that the traders were ready to join hands with the FBR to enhance tax net, playing their role to unearth tax evaders, but the tax department should also consult the `real` stakeholders before formulating national tax policy.