Summary Tax authorities told Dunya News that they have collected more than Rs2 billion taxes due to the scheme.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Number of beneficiaries has increased in tax amnesty scheme to declare their unannounced assets till June 30. According to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the scheme period will not be extended.
Tax authorities told Dunya News that they have collected more than Rs2 billion taxes due to the scheme. 1 lac and 52 thousand secret foreign account holders expressed less interest in the scheme than expected. It won’t be possible to reach the tax target despite amnesty scheme, they added.
On June 24, 2300 people made full use of the scheme and submitted an application while officials expect the applicants to increase in the remaining six days.
Scheme will not be extended as Pakistan is likely to meet the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on July 3. Additional tax will be required to use the scheme after the deadline.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has clarified that the final date to take benefit from amnesty scheme is June 30. He said if government extended the date it will create confusion among people and they will think perhaps some other scheme is coming.
Talking to a private TV channel, PM said country cannot run without collection of tax money, adding that a self change inevitable for the progress of the country. He said people should remain confident that their money would be spent on their welfare.
PM Imran said this is tough time for the nation but government and public can make this scheme successful. He said running of state affairs become easy when whole nation stands with the government.
He said this nation faced floods with a unity earlier. He said government would launch a helpline where public can call to lodge a complaint against those teasing them.
He said people fear that their tax money would not be used properly, adding that government would bring reforms in FBR. He ensured that tax money would be spent on public.
The PM said more than half of the revenue is spent to pay the loans. He said first time Army, government and ministers have announced to cut their budget.
He said Pakistanis are among the world’s lowest tax giving nations and we are here due to corrupt practices.
He said the amnesty scheme is not for the politicians and public office holders. He said people must register themselves before June 30, adding that the loans would increase if we did not do it now.
PM said he was thinking of public because rulers in the past have made their own factories. He hoped that Pakistan would progress rapidly after this tough time would be over. He said we have to bear this tough time, adding that Turkey also faced a difficult year before their economic revival.
He said small and medium scale industries are backbone of economy but policies of previous governments harmed these industries. He said Rs 10 billion money laundering was being done every year, adding that no loans would be required if money laundering is stopped.
He said MoUs were signed to get data and there would be punishment on benami properties now.
