Block of 2 lakh 10 thousand tax defaulters: FBR

Pakistan The tax collection agency in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said on Thursday that to increase revenue Tax returns 2 lakh 10 thousand SIM cards of non-submitting users have been blocked.

According to the news agency FP, during the year 2022, only 5.2 million people in Pakistan with a population of more than 24 million filed income tax returns.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had passed the order in April and had subsequently sent orders to the telecommunication authority to block the connection of 210,000 SIM cards, of which, according to the board’s data, 62 thousand were later restored.

FBR Public Relations Department official Bakhtiar Muhammad said that ‘We have unblocked the sims of the tax payers. No one pays taxes voluntarily. We have to find ways to make people pay taxes.’

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority According to Pakistan, there are more than 192 million cell phone users while there are four telecommunications service providers.

Citizens in Pakistan are required to register a SIM on their National Identity Card, which is often used for multiple connections.

An official of one of the four telecommunications companies told AFP on condition of anonymity that “access to telecom services is a basic human right and it includes many other basic services, including access to information, education and emergency services.” is necessary for

‘We are in discussions with the authorities, convincing them to use technology to help increase tax collection, as sudden measures may disrupt the delivery of these vital services.’

Pakistan is trying to raise its low income but faces many obstacles due to the largely undocumented economy.

This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).

The Pakistani government is pushing for more loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help balance spending and revenue, but the IMF wants Islamabad to take more steps to mobilize its resources. Do it.

“This is a ridiculous step,” digital rights activist Fariha Aziz told AFP. Not all SIM holders earn enough to qualify for tax. People’s livelihoods are tied to their phones, it’s a transgression.’

The four telecommunication companies warned in a letter to the Information Technology Ministry in June that the new tax measures against non-filing cellphone users were ‘impractical’ and unenforceable’ and would discourage foreign investment. So there will be problems.

A 66-year-old businessman from Islamabad, Taseef Geelani, says, ‘This new initiative is beyond the limit.

‘Whatever I earn, it is my responsibility to contribute to the society. However, sim blocking is unfair, it is a violation of freedom of expression and rights.’