The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is urgently calling on the government to extend the income tax return filing deadline from September 30 to October 31. The move is requested to provide crucial relief and adequate time for the business community to meet its tax obligations.
In a formal statement released Monday, LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, along with Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman and Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry, appealed directly to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial.
The LCCI leaders pointed to multiple, critical factors making the current deadline unachievable for a significant number of taxpayers. These include the recent devastating floods across parts of the country and persistent technical difficulties with the Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR) online filing system, which they say is operating under heavy load and causing delays.
Stressing that the business community is the "backbone of Pakistan's economy," the statement emphasized the need for the government to adopt a more flexible approach. The LCCI warned that if an extension isn't granted, many honest taxpayers face the risk of penalties and legal complications for delays that are simply beyond their control.
Extending the deadline to October 31, they concluded, will provide essential relief to traders and industrialists while simultaneously boosting overall tax compliance.
