Exporters demand restoration of fixed tax regime to remain competitive.

Exporters in Pakistan are opposing the government's proposal to shift taxation on turnover from a fixed regime to a normal regime in order to increase revenue. They argue that this change would be devastating for exports, as it would result in a 39% tax on their profits. Retailers also expressed concerns about an increase in the tax rate from 15% to 18%. The government's tax policies were criticized for burdening compliant taxpayers and legitimizing non-filers. Efforts are being made to include more retailers in the tax net and curb smuggling in the textile sector. The government's decision to raise taxes is seen as prioritizing a loan deal with the IMF over providing relief to the struggling economy. [Extracted from the article]