Jirga organized under auspices of Swat Chamber of Commerce

SWAT: The Jirga organized under the auspices of the Swat Chamber of Commerce against the possible imposition of taxes in Malakand division and
demanded the restoration of separate status of Malakand division and extension of tax exemption. The members of the assembly present in the Jirga assured to raise their voice against taxes in the national and provincial assembly.
“The Jirga also supported the shutter down strike of the business community in Malakand Division on May 14.”
In this regard, the Jirga organized by the Swat Chamber of Commerce was held in Mingora under the chairmanship of Malakand Division Traders Federation President Abdurrahim.
President of Swat Chamber of Commerce Rahat Ali Khan, President of Swat Bar Association Faheem Naeem, President of Swat Malakand CNG Association Haji Tahir Khan, Members of National Assembly Sohail Sultan and Dr. Amjad Ali, Provincial Minister for Forest Fazal Hakeem, MPA Sultan Room, City Mayor Swat Shahid Ali and various organizations and civil society members participated.
Addressing the Jirga, the speakers said that according to the Constitution of Pakistan, the Provincially administered Tribal areas (PATA) Malakand Division is a tax free zone and we will not accept the imposition of tax here under any circumstances and will go against it to the last extent, added, that the separate status of Malakand Division has been done away with deliberately, “They said.
“Although earlier, at the time of merger with the Government of Pakistan, there was an agreement that no tax would be levied in Malakand Division for 100 years,” They further said.
They said that the Jirga declares its full support for the shutdown strike on May 14 against the imposition of taxes and that the struggle against the imposition of taxes will be resisted and opposed to the last degree.
On this occasion, the members of the assembly said that we are with the businessmen and the chamber of commerce and in this regard we will raise our voice on the floor of the national and provincial assembly and fully support the people’s movement.
“It should be remembered that the federal government abolished the separate status of the Provincially administered Tribal areas (PATA) “Malakand Division” and federally administered tribal areas (FATA) “Merged Tribal Districts”
under Article 246-247 of the Constitution of Pakistan and announced the implementation of curcuma tax and inclusive taxes on June 30, 2023.
This announcement was made when in 2018 the separate status of FATA was abolished and these areas were declared as part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
But unfortunately, due to the negligence of the then Assembly Members , the status of Malakand Division was also abolished and no one raised a voice against it.
A movement started in the entire division and Merged tribal districts against the government’s decision to end the tax exemption. After which the government extended the tax exemption for one more year.
“Now once again the tax exemption period is ending on June 30, 2024 and the tax will be applicable from July 1 in Malakand Division and similarly merged tribal districts.”
Against which the Malakand Division Traders Federation has announced a complete shutterdown strike on May 14.