Hazifa Jamshed
LAHORE: Pakistan Flour Mills Association has announced to stop wheat washing from Wednesday, July 10, and to shut down flour mills for an indefinite period from Thursday, July 11, against the imposition of withholding tax on wheat products.
This announcement was made by the Chairman of Pakistan Flour Mills Association Chaudhry Amir Abdullah along with Chaudhry Muhammad Yusuf and other officials while holding a press conference in Karachi.
He said that this is the last ultimatum for the government, if the government does not accept our demands, flour mills across the country including Karachi will be closed from Thursday.
He said that for the first time in the 70-year history of Pakistan, withholding tax has also been imposed on bread. The price of flour will increase by 8 rupees.
The representatives of the flour mills say that the FBR is giving the responsibility of revenue collection to the flour mills after the failure of tax collection. If the decision is not revised, flour mills across the country, including Karachi, will stop producing wheat from Wednesday, July 10. Washing and grinding will be stopped, the supply of bran to buffalo colonies and cattle will be stopped and flour mills across the country will be closed indefinitely from Thursday, July 11.
He said that the retreats in flour mills will be closed until the demands are met, and the implementation of withholding tax will heat the bribery market in FBR.
Aamir Abdullah said that instead of restricting the flour mills, they should be kept free so that they can earn a lot of foreign exchange for the country by exporting wheat flour and other valued wheat products.
