ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (APP): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting on tax reforms in the country at Prime Minister’s office here Thursday. The meeting was attended by Haroon Akhter Khan, SAPM, Miftah Ismail, SAPM, members of Tax Reforms Commission and senior government officials.
The Prime Minister was briefed on various measures being taken to introduce much-needed tax reforms, broadening of tax base, incentivizing and simplification of tax collection system and bringing about qualitative improvements in the auditing system. Various proposals to make the revenue collection system more efficient and customer friendly were also discussed threadbare. Various steps being taken by FBR to facilitate tax-payers of the country also came under discussion.
The Prime Minister directed that the process of establishing real time linkages of FBR with relevant organizations such as NADRA, banks, provincial authorities, and utility service providers should be expedited to make the system more efficient.
The Prime Minister also observed that in order to broaden tax base, steps should be taken to bridge trust deficit between the tax-payers and the tax-collectors.
The Prime Minister observed that everyone should be encouraged to pay their taxes and thus discharge their national obligation. He directed that tax return forms should be further simplified and reduced to minimum possible size for the ease of common citizens and tax-filers.
The Prime Minister asked Federal Board of Revenue to undertake systemic and broad-based reforms in consultation with all stakeholders rather than a piecemeal approach.
APP/Barlas/anm
