Industrialists and businessmen of Pokhara have urged the Pokhara Metropolitan City to expand the tax base rather than raise tax rates. They made the suggestion during a discussion on revenue policy for the upcoming fiscal year, organized on Monday by the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the metropolis.
Participants emphasized that a significant number of businesses are operating without registration, outnumbering officially registered enterprises. They said this has created an unfair environment, where registered businesses bear the tax burden while unregistered ones evade it. They called for a revenue policy that is both citizen- and business-friendly.
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce President Gokarna Karki said that businesses are suffering due to the unchecked operations of unregistered firms. He also warned of the increasing risk of unauthorized goods entering the market, which undermines businesses that pay customs duties.
Karki stressed that the private sector is ready to pay taxes but called for a streamlined system that prevents double taxation across jurisdictions. He noted that while the private sector recognizes the importance of tax revenue for infrastructure and social services, a supportive business environment is essential for sustained economic growth.
Highlighting a longstanding issue, Karki said house tax collection in Pokhara has been problematic and insisted that property owners be held accountable for paying this tax.
Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Binod Shrestha echoed similar views, saying the revenue policy should not burden businesses and that the private sector is willing to cooperate with the government if the policy is fair and practical.
Other speakers, including Binod Sharma, Gandaki Province Chair of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries; Umraj Bastola of Pokhara Chamber; Januka Parajuli, General Secretary of Lekhnath Chamber; and Uttamman Buddhacharya, Senior Vice President of Pokhara Chamber, also called for business-friendly government policies.
Pokhara Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor and Revenue Advisory Committee Coordinator Manju Devi Gurung said the city would consider the private sector's concerns. She affirmed the metropolis’s readiness to work with businesses under a public-private partnership model and promised to improve the tax system and make it more supportive of private enterprise.
Revenue Division Chief Nawaraj Poudel said the city failed to meet its revenue collection target this fiscal year. Against a target of Rs 1.7 billion from internal sources, the city revised the target to Rs 1.18 billion. He added that due to the shortfall, the city will set a lower target for the next fiscal year. -- RSS
