The misuse of trade platforms by a group of influential industrialists for personal and economic advantages has become a significant concern for Pakistan’s business and industrial community.
According to Mirza Abdul Rehman, former Vice President of FPCCI, some individuals holding key positions within major business organizations are leveraging their influence to promote self-serving interests under the guise of regional development. This approach poses a serious threat to the spirit of collective progress and fairness that should define Pakistan’s economic policies.
Mirza Abdul Rehman expressed concern that pressure is being exerted on the federal government to reverse its recent decision regarding the taxation of industries located in previously exempt regions of FATA and PATA. The move, aimed at establishing fiscal parity and expanding the national tax base, is said to be facing resistance from vested interests who have long benefited from the absence of proper regulatory oversight.
These individuals are allegedly operating in tax-free zones. They are now selling raw materials and products in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, at prices below the market rate. Such practices not only undermine competition but also destabilize the pricing structures of the formal industry across settled areas.
Mirza Abdul Rehman questioned the continued justification for subsidies in regions where market rates for goods, such as ghee and steel, already mirror those in metropolitan areas. They emphasized that any intended relief for underdeveloped regions must directly benefit local populations rather than being captured by a band of opportunistic entrepreneurs.
The business community, he said, united in their concerns, has urged the government to adopt a uniform industrial and taxation policy that ensures equity across all provinces and territories. He called for transparency, oversight, and the safeguarding of institutional platforms, such as chambers of commerce, from undue personal interference.
The business leader emphasized that the credibility of Pakistan’s leading trade bodies must be maintained to preserve investor confidence and ensure long-term economic stability. He warned that continued manipulation of key trade bodies for narrow gain could alienate foreign investors and fragment national industry.
He concluded by calling on responsible industrialists and chambers to stand united in rejecting practices that endanger economic harmony, stressing that protecting institutional integrity is not only essential but also critical to Pakistan’s sustainable growth.
