The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has issued a harsh warning, threatening to shut down fuel stations throughout the nation on July 5 if the advance tax is not repealed.
In a news conference, PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan raised severe concerns about the 0.5% advance turnover tax placed on petroleum dealers in the most recent financial law.
He underlined that this fee makes it hard to support gas station companies.
Khan asked the government to rethink and promptly eliminate the advance tax, adding that if it persists, they would be forced to close all businesses nationally.
He cited declining sales for gasoline dealers and blamed the government of facilitating smuggling, adding that those who speak out suffer intimidation. Khan further mentioned that taxes on every purchase transaction add to the hardship for gasoline merchants.
As stated by Khan, the Prime Minister has voiced powerlessness over the enforcement of these levies.
A group of petroleum dealers will visit Islamabad today to meet with the Finance Minister, the Petroleum Minister, and the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The government announced increase an increase of Rs7.45 in price of petrol and Rs9.56 in HSD, according to the notification issued at night.
The decision to increase the petroleum levy (over Rs80 per litre), however, has not been implemented so far.
