Tax evaders

Sir: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has started the assessment and monitoring of five corporate sectors in the country. As soon as the announcement was made, the automobile manufacturing industry registered a 73 percent increase in its sales. Although everyone in Pakistan is aware of the fact that automobile sales have not changed since last year, the record shows that automobile companies have registered higher sales this year. It means that a monitoring by the CCP has forced automobile manufacturers to show their actual record.

Similarly a year ago, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had made a startling discovery. They found the records of IT equipment sale of two major brands from an Islamabad distributor that had shown an unofficial secret deal of IT equipment to the tune of billions of rupees. They found out that the two major brands of computer manufacturers were selling more than 50 percent of their import in grey trade, without paying any taxes.
These and other stories have highlighted the fact that in Pakistan, even international brands are not being sold through proper channels. This also highlights that importers and multinational companies also deal in illegal activities. The initiative taken by the CCP is good while the tax authorities should also do more work to capture these tax evaders.
I have also complained to the CCP about the sugar industry mafia that is not only cheating poor farmers, but also fooling the government and the public as well. But unfortunately the CCP has not announced any action or investigation against them.
ENGR SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar