The Federal Board of Revenue has decided to amend an SRO about the Tajir Dost Scheme two days before the traders’ nationwide strike against new taxes and exorbitant electricity bills.

“The FBR will issue an amended SRO 1064 about the scheme keeping in view demands and reservations of the traders to facilitate them,” Tajir Dost Scheme Chief Coordinator Naeem Mir said at a press conference in Multan on Monday.

Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Sajid Tasleem Azam and the focal person for the scheme Ahmad Hassan accompanied him at the presser. Mir stated that they held an awareness session with trader representatives from the Multan division earlier in the day.

The trader representatives openly expressed their concerns about the scheme, he said and added that “misunderstandings” regarding the scheme were cleared.

Mir said that traders had raised objections to the tax valuation table of the scheme. As a result, it has been decided to amend the SRO 1064 of the scheme. He also stated that the body would not “fight for non-filers under any circumstances, as the burden is borne by the salaried class.”

“A new procedure for revising the evaluation table is being devised,” Mir said and added that a committee would be formed at the commissioner level, in which local representatives of traders would also be notified.

It would decide the amount of tax for different areas and markets, the chief coordinator explained.

It would also decide the tax amount for traders with higher or lower incomes in a particular area or market. “Only those earning an income will have to pay taxes.”

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has instructed that consultations with traders should be held at every level, Mir said and added: “The FBR chairman has invited the trader representatives at 3pm tomorrow [Tuesday].”

He stated that they wanted the input of trader organizations to be included in the newly amended SRO. “A simple Urdu tax return form will also be issued and all objections to the scheme have been resolved,” he stated.

“There is no justification left for a strike against the scheme. Peaceful protest is everyone’s constitutional and legal right, but there should be a reason for it.”

The coordinator stated that no illegal actions or mistreatment would be taken against any trader. “Traders are our people and are the driving force of the state,” he added.

The coordinator said that traders should come up with suggestions if the scheme was not acceptable. “Trader representatives should also show generosity and be a part of the negotiation process,” he said while calling for talks.