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### Business Community Slams FBR Over Retroactive Property Tax Surge
The economic climate in Pakistan is far from ideal for the business community, according to Sardar Tahir, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Federation Retailers. During a press conference in Islamabad, Mr. Tahir issued a scathing indictment of federal tax policies, stating that “doing business in Pakistan is fast becoming a crime.”
He vehemently rejected the notion that the business sector is responsible for the national revenue shortfall, arguing they are instead bearing the brunt of the consequences. Mr. Tahir criticized incompetent authorities, stating they are “gambling with the nation’s future.”
The focal point of the Chamber’s grievance is the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) implementation of a new property valuation table. Issued on December 9th, the FBR retroactively applied the table effective December 8th. Businesses attempting property transfers on December 10th were informed that their associated fees had increased by “several hundred percent.”
Sardar Tahir highlighted that the fee increase amounts to billions of rupees and far exceeds realistic market rates. In a dramatic gesture, he offered to gift his plots to the FBR Chairman, emphasizing the unrealistic nature of the new valuations. He further pointed out that despite the drastic changes, the new valuation table has not yielded even a single rupee increase in revenue, pleading with the Finance Minister for immediate intervention.
### National Governance and Federal Appointments
President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath of office to Zafar Hijazi as the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) in Islamabad. Separately, the President met with Maryam Madiha Aftab, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Ireland, during which he emphasized the importance of bolstering the economic partnership between Pakistan and Ireland.
### Security and Law Enforcement Roundup
In a significant security development, all 14 passengers who had been abducted from a passenger bus traveling from Sadiqabad to Quetta were successfully recovered.
Karachi experienced continued street crime, with two supermarkets in the Gulshan-e-Hadeed area being looted by two separate culprits within a 48-hour period. Additional IG Karachi, Javed Alam Odho, chaired a meeting to finalize security arrangements for the upcoming Christmas celebrations. Meanwhile, a railway track near Humayun, close to Shikarpur, was damaged following an explosion. In a separate incident, DSP Usman Haider was suspended following his arrest on charges related to the alleged murder of his wife and daughter.
Tragedy struck in Nowshera where a fire erupted at a CNG station.
### Provincial Initiatives and Policy Updates
**Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP):** Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited Peshawar Central Jail and announced a special two-month remission in the sentences of eligible prisoners.
**Balochistan:** Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti addressed the increasingly severe drought conditions in Balochistan, announcing the government’s commitment to developing comprehensive mitigation plans.
**Sindh Assembly:** The Sindh Assembly saw the introduction of a resolution aimed at modernizing the province’s fire brigade infrastructure. Another resolution was presented to honor the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces and the Bihari community during the 1971 East Pakistan tragedy. The new Ambassador of the UAE, Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, visited Governor House Sindh and met with Governor Kamran Tessori to discuss bilateral relations, investment, and strategic cooperation.
**Political Movement:** A delegation from the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aaeen-e-Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan) held meetings with leaders, including National Party Chief Aftab Sherpao, and visited the Jamaat-e-Islami office in Islamabad.
### International and Human Rights Focus
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a condemnation regarding the actions of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was filmed pulling the veil from a Muslim female doctor.
Internationally, the father of the civilian hero who apprehended an attacker at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Muhammad Fateh, stated that his son’s bravery had saved dozens of innocent lives.
In celebrity news, renowned Bollywood actor Anupam Kher opted to travel by train after missing his connecting Indigo flight from Varanasi to Khajuraho, describing the experience as “interesting.”
The death of former political figure Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has been confirmed by his family.
