Kayani opens awareness meeting on Small Shopkeepers Scheme

Business Recorder reported that Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani led a follow-up awareness session on the Small Shopkeepers Scheme at the FBR Headquarters in Islamabad on Monday. Participants joined both in person and online through Zoom. The scheme was formally launched last week.

Kayani pointed to simplified registration, flexible payment options and an operating model meant to reduce compliance burdens for small retailers. He described the scheme as the most straightforward the country has seen in 79 years and said it was drawn up under the direction of the Prime Minister. He presented it as an opportunity for traders to meet their national obligations and bolster the economy.

FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said small shopkeepers can register and bring themselves within the legal framework by paying a one percent turnover tax. He added that registered traders would receive green plates that shield them from unnecessary scrutiny by tax collectors, while uncooperative traders would face strict legal action. Trade leaders, including Ajmal Baloch and Muhammad Kashif Chaudhary, welcomed the digital tools, which include a web portal and iOS and Android apps.