Chemists stage protest against imposition of advance tax

NOWSHERA: The Chemists and Druggists Association on Thursday rejected the advance tax levied in the budget 2021-22.

Speaking at a protest demonstration, provincial chairman of Chemists and Druggists Association Muhammad Ismail Khan termed the imposition of advance tax economic murder of the chemists.

A large number of chemists and druggists from across the district participated in the protest rally.

Muhammad Ismail, Syed Mohsin Shah Kiramat Khan, Jamil Khan, Fayyaz Khan and others were leading the protest rally.

The speakers said that the provincial government must waive off advance tax on the chemists and druggists or else they would launch a protest movement for their rights.

They termed the one percent advance tax on chemists a cruel decision on the part of the provincial government, saying that it ultimately affected their business.

They said the government should have taken pharmacy stakeholders into confidence before imposing advance tax.

They said that the pharmacy sector was on the verge of collapse and that the government should have supported the chemists instead of further burdening them with more taxes.

Earlier, the chemists and druggists took a rally from Shama Chowk to Nowshera Press Club where their leaders addressed a press conference.