PM unveils voluntary tax filing scheme

Says it will help increase revenues and take country forward on path of progress

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced the Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme for traders and said it would help increase revenues and take the country forward on path of progress and development.

“I am pleased to announce the tax amnesty scheme for the trading community on the first day of 2016 and urge all to play their part in nation building,” Nawaz said, while addressing a large gathering held at the Prime Minister’s Office to launch the scheme designed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)

“The scheme will bring in a new era of close collaboration between the FBR and the traders community,” he added.  The prime minister lauded the resolution of a long-standing dispute between the government and different trade bodies over the issue of taxation and said all the stakeholders, who played a part in the matter, deserved appreciation.

“The congenial atmosphere developed will help take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity,” he said.

The prime minister said good government-trader ties would help end poverty, counter terrorism, create employment and bring peace across the country, particularly in the country’s nerve-centre of Karachi. He said his government took head-on the major challenges when it took over in 2013 and, resultantly, various sectors witnessed a sea change.



“There is a need to make progress in all areas, be it the shortage of electricity and natural gas, road infrastructure, poor economy, terrorism, or relations with India and Afghanistan,” he said. Prime Minister Nawaz said his government believed in addressing issues with a spirit of tolerance, understanding and statesmanship, so as to help take the country forward on the path of development.

“A nation, which addresses all issues with consensus, can achieve the most difficult of tasks,” he said.

He said his government believed that taxes need to be brought down to a level where the trading community feels comfortable and encouraged to play its part in national development. “Our government believes in addressing all issues with transparency,” Nawaz said, while citing the example of three new power plants that would cost Rs60 billion, against their stipulated cost of Rs100 billion.

He said he was proud that the national exchequer managed to save precious Rs40 billion that would be spent on development projects. “A number of power projects are being set up that will help the country meet its energy shortage,” he said.

The prime minister also directed the FBR chairman to direct his staff to ensure that no person was pressured unjustifiably and that the taxpayers were treated with respect.

The representatives of traders’ community presented a gold medal to the prime minister for taking personal interest in amicably resolving the issue of taxation between the government and traders.


Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2016.