SCCI Hosts Consultative Session With State Minister Kayani
Sialkot, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Sep, 2026) Syed Ahtesham Mazhar, President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), along with Muhammad Murad Arshad, Senior Vice President, and Salman Sheikh, Vice President, hosted a high-level meeting with Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance, at SCCI.
The session was attended by:
- Muhammad Khalid Jamil, Chief Commissioner IR, RTO Gujranwala & Chairman, Export Facilitation Committee, Sialkot Region
- Hassan Zulfiqar, Chief Commissioner IR, RTO Sialkot
- Faiz Ahmad Chadhar, Chairman, TDAP
- Senior FBR officials
- Members of the SCCI Executive Committee.
Key Takeaways:
President Mazhar expressed deep gratitude to Bilal Azhar Kayani for his consistent support to the export sector across all government forums. He highlighted the Minister's impactful initiatives like:
- Enhancing the utilization period under the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS).
- Establishing Export Facilitation Committees at RTO levels.
Business Community Concerns:
Syed Ahtesham Mazhar and other business representatives voiced concerns regarding export facilitation and taxation reforms, proposing:
- Clear guidelines for Export Facilitation Committees (EFCs)
- Audit exemptions for compliant exporters
- Transparent mechanisms for resolving audit cases
- Relief from unnecessary notices and compliance burdens under Rule 44 and Section 161.
Minister's Response:
Bilal Azhar Kayani assured the Sialkot business community of continued government engagement with exporters, emphasizing:
- Creating an enabling environment for businesses
- Reducing unnecessary compliance burdens
- Strengthening export facilitation
He highlighted the role of Export Facilitation Committees in resolving exporter concerns and disputes, ensuring fair treatment by tax authorities.
SCCI's Commitment:
The SCCI leadership welcomed the Minister’s assurances and reaffirmed its commitment to public-private dialogue for:
- Export growth
- A documented economy
- A business-friendly environment