The government has come under fire for 'leaving traders in the lurch' in the budget.
Although a few features are welcomed, the condition of Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) remains a point of contention.
Anjuman Tajraan Pakistan President Kashif Chaudhry called the card condition ‘impracticable’, saying: “Since such conditions don’t work in ordinary days, how these can work in the current extraordinary situation emerged after outbreak of COVID-19 globally.”
Atiq Meer claimed that figures were fudged and traders especially small merchants have nothing in the budget. “Reps of trade and industry sectors should have been taken in the loop. This is just a figure-fudging book,” he added.
Sayed Tariq Shah of Sindh private schools body questioned how the sector can work under such a taxing system.
Babar Mehmood of Al-Khidmat Group said this budget has nothing for small traders and common persons. “They have made outlays for their ‘favourite’ sectors like construction industry,” he added.
Another trader Mehar Fayyaz said though the government did not raise unfunded liabilities with no source of revenue generation, the CNIC conditions will deepen small traders’ troubles as economic activities revive at snail's pace.”