President of Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid Hussain said that government has decided to impose FED on steel, ghee and some other industries located in the tribal areas. This move can lead to their closure causing a spike in unemployment resulting in a general feeling of mistrust in the area which might also spark off agitation and extremism.
His point was that the areas exempted from federal taxes should remain exempted according to the decision, in which exemption was extended until 30th June, 2023.
Mian Zahid emphasized that on one hand, the government has proposed to allocate Rs 152 billion for the development of erstwhile FATA and on the other; it is hampering economic growth in these areas which, transcended his comprehension.
