PM directs FBR to set up helpline to assist filers

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that expanding the tax base and reducing the burden of taxes on the poor were among the top priorities of the government.

He was chairing a meeting to review progress on the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the implementation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system, and other reforms.

Hailing the availability of simple tax returns in Urdu, the prime minister said a helpline should be established to assist with the process of filing tax returns and digital invoicing should also be launched in Urdu. "In tax reforms, the focus should remain on the convenience of the common man," he added.

The prime minister directed that third-party validation be ensured for all FBR reforms to maintain transparency. He stated that for the public's convenience, tax returns have been made extremely easy by making them digital, concise, and linked with a centralized database. He said salaried individuals will benefit the most from the new simplified tax returns.

The prime minister instructed that a public awareness campaign should be launched about the ease of tax returns so more and more people can file their returns under the new system.

He also instructed that small and medium-sized businesses should be given special support in joining the digital invoicing system.

Digital economy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday said top priority of the government was to bring transparency in the economy through digitization system.

He was chairing the weekly meeting on cashless and digital economy.

He said digitization of the payment mechanism from government to people and people to government will create transparency and ease for consumers.

He directed that the steps of digitization and cashless economy should be made easier for small and medium entrepreneurs.

He said the appointment of the Board of Governors and Chairman of Raast should be completed by September.

Experts of economy and business should be included in the Board of Directors of Raast, he added.

The prime minister said all State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) should also be brought under the purview of the digital system.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed pleasure over the Pakistan Stock Exchange crossing a historic level of 135,000 points, saying that it reflected the confidence of the business community in Pakistan's economy.

The prime minister, in a statement, said that the current positive economic indicators showed the government's policies moving in the right direction.

He said that providing a conducive environment to the business community was the government's priority.