Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 3: Minister for Finance & Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said that the proposed Goods and Service Tax (GST) will not be implemented in the State unless traders community and other stake holders are consulted about its pros and cons.
Speaking at two separate interactive meetings with the frontline representatives of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) Kashmir and Kashmir Traders United Front (KTUF) at the Commercial Taxes Complex, Srinagar, Mr. Rather said though final decision about the implementation of the GST regime has not been taken by the Centre as yet but the traders fraternity of the State will have be ready for its adoption for which the State Government will organize awareness programmes.
The meeting was convened to threadbare discuss the problems of the trading fraternity and to get their suggestions for making the tax collection system more trader friendly and viable.
The Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Additional Commissioner, Commercial Taxes (Administration), Kashmir, Rafiq Ahmad Hakeem, Deputy Commissioner Commercial Taxes Department (HQR), Showkat Aijaz, President KTMF, M Yasin, Jan Mohammad Koul of KTUF and traders representatives from various districts were also present in the meeting.
Mr Rather enjoined upon the senior officers of the Commercial Taxes Department to make the tax collection system more trader friendly so that genuine tax payers are not put to any unnecessary harassment. He asked the officers and employees of the department to improve their PR with the traders, adding that “honour and respect of the genuine traders, is my priority”. He, even, suggested to make good PR of the officers and employees of CTD as one of the bench marks of their Annual Performance Reports (APRs).
Responding to the demands of the traders, Mr. Rather said that Government is in favour of abolishing CST, adding that more trader friendly initiatives are underway for the convenience of the traders and other tax payers. In this connection, he assured to provide a spacious waiting room for them in the Commercial Taxes Complex with all modern facilities.
While urging for greater and regular interactions with the traders, Mr. Rather said close rapport among employees and traders will help to identify shortcoming in the tax collection system. He said Government is well abreast with the problems confronting the trading fraternity and other tax payers, adding that after every 3 months performance of the Commercial Taxes Department is being reviewed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel