By Javed Mavia
NANKANA SAHIB: The Nankana Sahib Chamber of Commerce and Industry has strongly opposed the Federal Board of Revenue’s decision to impose tax on agricultural income for the tax year 2025, terming it a cruel step against the flood-hit farming community.
President of the Chamber, Sardar Mian Nadeem Ahmed, said that farmers in Punjab, including Nankana Sahib, as well as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), have already suffered massive losses due to the recent devastating floods. Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed, farmland remains submerged, and farmers are facing severe financial strain.
“In such circumstances, imposing a new tax on agricultural income is unbearable for farmers who are already struggling with irreparable losses,” he said, urging the government to prioritize relief and rehabilitation instead of burdening the farming sector with additional taxes.
The Chamber president demanded that the government exempt agricultural income from income tax for the year 2025, waive electricity bills of flood-affected tube wells, defer agricultural loan installments for one year, and provide free seeds and fertilizers to help farmers restart cultivation.
He warned that since farmers are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, neglecting them today would inflict irreparable damage on the national economy tomorrow.
Sardar Mian Nadeem also prayed for the affected families and for the safety and protection of the homeland.
