From when mobile sims of non-filers will be blocked? Date announced

The final date for blocking mobile SIM cards of non-filers and disconnecting electricity and gas connections has arrived, the FBR spokesperson says the order will be issued by the second or third week of January.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the authority responsible for tax collection in Pakistan, has decided to crack down on non-filers under ‘strict measures’.

FBR spokesperson Afaq Qureshi says that the agency has decided to block the mobile SIM cards of non-filers and in this regard FBR will issue Income Tax General Order by the second or third week of January.

The spokesperson added that the date of the order is yet to be finalized and it depends on the completion of legal proceedings of the institution and issuance of notices to the defaulters, the order will be issued by the second or third week of January.

He said that the last date for replying to the notices issued by the FBR to the non-filers was December 28 and 29, 2012. Now the FBR will issue a general order, which will contain the names of the nine filers. It is a legal requirement to release names after issuing notice to non-filers whose electricity and gas connections will be disconnected.

Afaq Qureshi said that there is no such provision in the law when asked about the proposal to block the national identity card or passport of tax defaulters.

It should be noted that as per Section 114B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, ‘in case of non-filing of tax returns in response to notices issued, the FBR would be empowered to disconnect utility connections including electricity and gas connections and block mobile SIMs. is

In a statement issued on December 31 last year, it was said that the FBR collected more than one trillion rupees in revenue in the month of December, while the targets for the first half of the current financial year have also been achieved.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar had recently said in a statement that the reform agenda of the FBR is on track and the government is committed to enhancing the efficiency of the institution.

The Prime Minister said that various proposals have been presented, which he agreed to, after which the Finance Minister was given approval to bring reforms.

Two months ago, the FBR approved the creation of 145 district tax officers to focus on bringing 15 to 2 million new taxpayers into the tax net by June this year.