Govt extends Asset Declaration Scheme deadline to July 3

Finance adviser says 'Benami commission' has been formed to probe hidden assets


News Desk June 30, 2019

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The federal government has decided on Sunday to extend the deadline for Asset Declaration Scheme till the end of banking hours on July 3.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh in a press conference in Islamabad.

“In view of the overwhelming response to the asset declaration scheme, the decision has been taken to extend the amnesty offer by three more days to facilitate the masses,” said the adviser, flanked by Information Adviser Firdous Ashiq Awan, State Minister for Revenue and Finance Hammad Azhar and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi.

He also made an appeal to all citizens to take full advantage of the amnesty scheme and avoid any "difficulties in the future".

The adviser said that a “Benami Commission” has also been formed to probe the assets which have not been declared under the amnesty scheme and added that the commission will start working after the scheme's deadline on July 3.

The announcement comes a day after Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda prematurely announced extension in the scheme's deadline on Twitter. FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi, however, refuted the reports and issued a statement saying, "No extension is being provided in the Asset Declaration Scheme."

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday hinted at the possibility of extending the deadline of the assets declaration scheme.

“Suddenly many people are expressing their willingness to come under the tax net but are complaining about the shortage of time as the scheme is about to expire,” the premier said on the state-run PTV’s special transmission.

Last month, the PTI government had announced its first tax amnesty scheme for whitening of undisclosed expenditures, sales and assets, including foreign assets, at nominal tax rates which came into effect through a presidential ordinance.

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