Mian Zahid Hussain, President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, has welcomed the Asaan Tajir App, launched by the government to broaden the tax base and simplify compliance for small traders. The app aims to bring 4.2 million undocumented retailers into the formal economy by providing a one-page return and a 1% tax on annual turnover, with a minimum payment of Rs25,000.

He highlighted the need for digital enforcement over coercive measures and stressed that the scheme’s success should be measured by new taxpayers rather than app downloads. Hussain pointed out the existing tax system’s reliance on salaried individuals and urged for a one-page, pre-filled return for salaried taxpayers. He also recommended expanding the app’s availability to multiple languages and providing additional support for traders lacking digital skills.

Additionally, Hussain expressed concerns about the potential impact of the turnover tax on businesses with low profit margins and called for regular publication of data on new filers and tax collection. He advocates for fair enforcement for businesses resisting the tax regime after an appropriate facilitation period.