Change is an exercise in continuity: PM Imran

Says giving opposition an NRO would make life easier for him, but would prove disastrous for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that bringing about change was a continuous struggle that one can retire from only at death.

Addressing digital media representatives in Islamabad, the premier said 'change' was not a switch that could be turned on at one's whim.

The prime minister said that out of 220 million people in Pakistan only 3,000 pay 70 per cent taxes.

“Half of the taxes we [the government] collect go in debt settlement of loans taken by previous governments,” the PM reiterated.

“My life would be a lot easier if I give the opposition the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), but it would be disastrous for Pakistan,” he said.

PM Imran added that the country was at a decisive point. "Our exports were growing, the construction industry was thriving," he said, adding that the service industry was still in crisis all over the world at the moment.

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“When you cut expenses, you bring down the demand,” he said.

The prime minister further maintained that the only goal of Narendra Modi- led Indian government was to spread chaos in Pakistan.

On January 5, it was reported that filing of income tax returns (ITRs) has improved significantly during tax year 2020, according to a statement issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

“Around 1.768 million taxpayers filed their income tax returns before the deadline ie December 8, 2020 while revenue received by FBR stood at Rs22 billion by this date,” it said.

“The number of filers has further increased to 2.316 million while tax collection rose to Rs43.6 billion till January 4, 2021, as compared to 2.181 million filers and collection of Rs28 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year, showing an increase of 55% in tax collection in current year.”

It is pertinent to mention that the number of income tax returns filed after the deadline of December 8, 2020 stood at 0.547 million and tax collection amount clocked in at Rs22 billion.