FBR directed to resolve importers’ issues
The staffers made it clear on the authorities that their protest will continue until the approval of their demands. PHOTO: FILE
Taking stock of the problems being faced by traders who had booked containers prior to the ban on imports, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Friday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to resolve their issues.
A meeting of the Senate body was held with Senator Saleem Mandviwalla in the chair, wherein the issue was raised.
Traders apprised the committee of the containers they had booked prior to the ban on imports, adding that they were not being allowed to bring them.
The chairman directed the tax department to resolve the issues being faced by the importers.
During the meeting, a shocking revelation was made that the FBR did not have a system to monitor the Point-of-Sale terminals.
The FBR chief told the committee that “whenever someone makes a purchase, the receipt is registered with the department’s Rewards Scheme, but some people have tempered with the machines to conceal the information pertaining to sales.”
Members of the committee said that the FBR should have a system to trace the actual numbers.
To this, the FBR chief said that they imposed heavy fines on sales tax evaders, with Rs500,000 being the penalty for the first time and Rs1 million for the second time. He added that the fine went as high as Rs1.5 million for the third time.
However, the committee was told that if someone still did not mend his ways, he was fined Rs250,000 and imprisoned for six months.
Senator Farooq H Naek remarked that if the business was being shut down, the person concerned should not be sent to jail. “If the fine is not paid, then a case should be filed against them; if the business is closed, then the person is financially dead,” he said.
Moreover, during the meeting, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) claimed that an “external conspiracy” was being hatched against them to hinder the revival of their industry.
“External elements have also mobilised against you?” the chairman asked.
The association said that its tax refunds amounting to Rs40 billion were stuck despite the submission of all records. It added that Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had promised to release the refunds.
The committee then directed the FBR chief to resolve the issue.
Earlier during the meeting, after it was found that Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman had been infected with coronavirus, the chairman instructed everyone in the room to wear masks.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2022.
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