Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that the number of tax filers in Pakistan has doubled over the past year, with 723,000 new individuals added to the tax net.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the minister confirmed that the total number of tax filers in the country has risen from 1.6 million to 3.2 million. He emphasized that non-filers will face strict limitations, including restrictions on purchasing vehicles, property, and difficulties in banking transactions.
Aurangzeb said the government’s measures including securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package would bring economic stability.
On expanding the tax net, he said the government had every kind of data that would be utilised in this regard. “Only 14% retailers are registered in the sales tax at the moment.”
“We will be forced to block utility services of non-registered people,” he warned, adding the government had ended all the exemptions on tax.
“It is not appropriate to treat taxpayers and non-taxpayers alike. We are left with no option but to expand the tax net,” he added.
The federal minister also said the government would have to boost the efficiency of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and for that reason 2,000 chartered accountants would have to be hired.
“The FBR’s ability to audit will also be enhanced. Hence, 2,000 tax audit experts will be appointed in the FBR.”