ISLAMABAD: The trader community in Islamabad has announced a protest and sit-in outside the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters on December 30, opposing the forced installation of the Point of Sale (POS) system at small businesses.
The protest will begin at Aabpara Chowk and proceed to the FBR headquarters, according to Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Traders Association and Traders Action Committee Islamabad.
Addressing a press conference alongside market representatives, Baloch accused FBR officials of coercively installing POS systems at small neighborhood shops.
He claimed that shopkeepers are being harassed, with uniformed officials forcing customers out of stores and threatening fines of up to Rs2 million, while only a small portion of the collected penalties is deposited into the national exchequer.
Baloch further alleged that after POS installation, officials from PRAL (Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited) visit shops and guide traders on fraudulent practices.
He claimed that those who refuse to cooperate face heavy fines, adding that children of senior FBR officials are employed at PRAL on high salaries.
Citing international financial institutions, Baloch said that corruption in Pakistan amounts to Rs5.3 trillion annually, bringing embarrassment to the government.
The trader leader warned that if POS systems are imposed, traders will strongly resist. He announced that if the protest march is obstructed or law and order is disrupted, traders will enforce a city-wide shutter-down strike in Islamabad.
He also criticized the mandatory QR code system, stating that traders are being forcefully registered for sales tax through digital transactions.
According to him, hundreds of small traders at weekly markets have already been registered via QR codes, calling it a “trap” for shopkeepers.
Baloch further alleged misconduct by FBR customs officials, claiming that during recent shop raids in Islamabad, 20 truckloads of legally imported tyres were seized, but only half were returned, with officials allegedly admitting that the remaining tyres had been used by staff.
