Inter-provincial taxpayer shift irks BTBA

38 major Balochistan taxpayers moved to Karachi

QUETTA:

The Balochistan Tax Bar Association (BTBA) has expressed reservation over the relocation of 38 major taxpayers from Balochistan to Karachi, terming the move as a bid to decrease provincial share from National Finance Commission.

"The decision was a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the people under Article 10-A of the Constitution and a violation of the principles of Federal Bureau of Revenue," the Tax Bar Association said in a statement on Monday.

The Association further demanded immediate shifting back of taxpayers, contractors, steel mills and other major taxpayers involved in the construction of Balochistan.

If it is necessary to shift the LTU then it should be set up in Balochistan’s capital, Quetta City.

Following the decision, an immediate emergency meeting was held at BTBA office in leadership of the President BTBA Muhammad Asif.

The meeting expressed surprise over the notification issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on August 5, under which the jurisdiction of 38 major taxpayers of Balochistan was shifted from Quetta to Karachi.

"The taxpayers have been transferred from RTO Quetta to LTU Karachi without any notice while in the current situation, the taxpayers of Balochistan have been subordinated to the Karachi LTU, which is against the basic principles of the FBR," BTBA President BTBA Asif said, adding that the Regional Tax Office is fully functional in Balochistan where a Grade 21 officer is posted as Chief Commissioner.

"Despite the situation of coronavirus in the last financial year, RTO Quetta met the tax collection targets and paid more tax than the target," Asif added.

Terming the move as violation of constitution, the BTBA said, it is merely not possible for both taxpayers and lawyers Under Article 10-A of the constitution to cover the distance of 700km for tax affairs. "The federal government imparts the provinces with a budget in proportion to the amount of tax they receive under the NFC award and it is always claimed that Karachi is the highest tax collecting city."

The meeting added called the move as injustice with the people of Balochistan.=

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2020.