KARACHI: The Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA) has claimed that the national tax number (NTN) of some 800 businessmen has been blocked by the tax authorities in the Sindh region. Expressing serious concern, PCDMA Chairman Arif Lakhani said that if NTNs were not unblocked immediately, the business community would not pay taxes, which would cause a loss of billions of rupees to the government. Arif Lakhani said that businessmen had submitted the pay order under section 81 and in some cases but still business community was receiving notices of recovery from the regional tax office (RTO) and they were being forced to pay taxes again. He said that businessmen were the ultimate sufferers of the dispute between the Department of Valuation and RTO Karachi for transferring of funds. “Instead of resolving the issues they are harassing business community and have blocked NTNs of traders, causing losses of billions of rupees to both sides – traders and the government,” he added. The PCDMA chairman demanded withdrawal of all recovery notices and activation of all NTNs and urge authorities concerned to resolve the issue of two departments. He threatened that the business community across Pakistan would stop paying taxes if their demands were not met. Published in Daily Times, October 5th 2017.