I’d rather resign than succumb to pressure: PM

I would rather resign than give in to any pressure, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday as he directed the taxmen to tighten their belts and formulate a mechanism to broaden the tax net without further burdening honest tax payers.

“Though it may be a difficult journey which requires collective and individual efforts, sincerity and sacrifices and putting forth the national interests supreme over all other interests,” he said during a visit to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters.

For the first time, a prime minister has taken the unprecedented step of addressing the FBR and clearly outlined priorities and guidelines in a bold and transparent manner, according to APP.

The prime minister said the government had the sole agenda: putting Pakistan on the path to progress.

He expressed his satisfaction over the $7 billion staff-level agreement reached with the IMF. The prime minister said the government had taken harsh and difficult decisions and added owing to the decisions, positive outcome was being achieved in form of economic stability. “The IMF programme proved vital in steering Pakistan out of financial straits,” he added.

Sharif expressed his resolve to stabilise Pakistan and take it to sustainable development, adding that they could achieve success on the day the country gets rid of loans.

The government strictly adhered to the policy reforms and meeting the financial targets and thus supported the low-income segments of society, he added. “We have stabilised the exchange rate for economic stability and taken steps for sustainable growth,” he said, adding that from now onwards, a journey of progress and prosperity would be completed through these reforms.

Terming the staff level arrangement with IMF a positive omen for the country’s economy, he expressed the hope that IMF board would also give a go ahead in this regard.

The prime minister said now it was their responsibility to act speedily and work tirelessly for making the IMF programme as the last one in the country’s history, adding after which a journey of progress and prosperity would commence in the country.

The prime minister expressed the confidence that Pakistan could become a great and prosperous country with collective and individual efforts.

If we want to get rid of debts, the FBR should levy taxes on those who had not been paying any taxes, he opined.

The prime minister said that the country’s top taxmen should realise the issue of repeatedly burdening of honest tax payers including the government employees who filed their annual tax returns.

He stressed upon levy of taxes and broadening of revenue resources with usage of latest technology practiced worldwide including help from the artificial intelligence and said that digitization of FBR was a step in this regard which should be fully utilized.

The prime minister maintained that he felt pains over learning of seeking foreign debts as the nations could not be built like in this manner.

He said his message was loud and clear that the current reforms in the FBR should be carried out without any personal likes and dislikes, and all the efforts should be directed under the national interests by rising above past tendencies.

The prime minister also directed the FBR chairman to bring forth all the hidden issues related to the department on table without wasting time.

The prime minister was informed of the completion of first phase of FBR Tajir Dost Mobile application under which all the processes for tax returns could be completed at ease.

While with the use of latest technology, about 49,00,000 eligible people had been identified who could pay taxes, it was added.