ISLAMABAD – National Accountability Bureau will not pursue cases pertaining to income tax or sales tax against members of the business community, it emerged on Friday.
According to a press release issued by the accountability watchdog, NAB chief Justice (r) Javed Iqbal said that such ongoing cases against businessmen will be referred to the Federal Board of Revenue and notices recently issued to owners of flour mills are also suspended with immediate effect.
Assuring that he will personally look into the matter, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal said the accountability watchdog is a people and business-friendly institution and gives top priority to solving problems being faced by the business community.
The remarks came as NAB chairman interacted with a delegation of businessmen headed by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Daroo Khan Achakzai at the NAB headquarters.
Iqbal rubbished that NAB’s proceedings had created problems for the business community.
“The business community is playing an important role in economic development. The prosperity of traders will lead to the prosperity of the country and NAB is playing its role while keeping this in mind,” he asserted.
Justice (r) Javed Iqbal promised that traders ‘who employ thousands of people will not be harassed’.
He emphasized that NAB never humiliated anyone during interrogation adding that a special desk has been set up at NAB headquarters in order to safeguard the interests of the business community.
The NAB chief, however, said that the bureau has been taking action against owners of private housing schemes who scammed people and fled the country after stealing billions of rupees.
