Tribal districts rally against new taxes, demand 10-year exemption extension

Protests against the enforcement of new taxes in the merged tribal districts have gained momentum, with political, social, and business leaders in Khyber and other former FATA areas demanding that the federal government extend tax exemptions for another decade. During various grand meetings and press conferences, local leaders warned that failure to accept their demands would trigger a well-organised protest movement across the entirety of the tribal districts.

A major gathering was held at the Jamaat-e-Islami district office in Aka Khel, chaired by District Amir Shah Faisal Afridi and attended by numerous traders from Bara and Jamrud, tribal elders, and politicians. The speakers emphasised that these regions continue to suffer from a severe lack of basic facilities, employment, healthcare, and education, noting that infrastructure destroyed by decades of terrorism has yet to be fully restored. Imposing taxes under these fragile conditions is seen as an injustice, and the participants have formed a core committee to orchestrate future public demonstrations.

Former Federal Minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi also rejected the new tax regime in the former FATA and PATA regions, stating that the local public, traders, and industrialists cannot bear additional financial burdens after enduring displacement and economic hardship. He argued that the state must first ensure the complete restoration of local businesses and basic amenities to bring the tribal districts at par with other regions before imposing taxation.

In a concurrent press conference at the Bara Press Club, Syed Ayaz Wazir, President of the Bara Traders Association, highlighted the economic devastation caused by nearly 25 years of unrest and military operations. He noted that many local families are currently struggling to afford basic meals, making the new tax laws completely unacceptable. Wazir formally appealed to the Prime Minister and President of Pakistan to grant an immediate 10-year tax exemption extension so the damaged local economy can recover.