Saeed Ahmed President National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for an efficient and ease portal for the success of electronic tax payment system. While, addressing at a seminar on "E-Payment System for duty and taxes" organised by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Standing Committee on Customs at Federation House on Tuesday, NBP President said that in order to facilitate the customer, NBP has already introduced some new facilities at Customs House branch with state of the art system.
He informed that number of counters have been increased from 14 to 22 at the National Bank Custom House branch to further ease the text payments. He said that Pakistan is moving in a right direction and future banking is only digital banking as most of developed countries have already launched systems, which are working without human interference.
President NBP appreciated the initiative of automated tax system by FBR and said that although this is a good step toward digitalization of economy, however still need more attention as tax payers are facing many difficulties due to system's complications. Presently, there are a number of issues on FBR's portal and it is very difficult for taxpayers to submit return through the FBR's website, he mentioned.
"FBR should make its system further efficient and ease to gain the required results," he said. He said that being regulator State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is supporting the financial institutions for digital payment system and accordingly NBP is also working several projects of digital banking to facilitate the customers.
Earlier, Rehan Akhtar Deputy Director Automation and Reforms Customs highlighted the procedure for e-payment of duty and taxes through 36 scheduled banks with effect from December this year. He informed that the new e-payment system is jointly developed by the State Bank, FBR and 1Link.
He said that automated payment system is also necessary under the protocols of World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Customs Organization (WCO) with an objective to facilitate the taxpayers with 24X7 payment system solution. S.M. Muneer said that presently some Rs 300 billion of refund claims are pending with FBR. Due to nonpayment of these pending claims, industrialists are facing severe financial issues. "It seems that industry and business are not priorities of the federal government," he added.
While addressing Arshad Jamal Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Customs said that this FBR's automated tax system will resolved the longstanding issues of duty and tax payments besides payment of taxes without human interference. Acting president FPCCI Aata Bajwa also addressed the seminar.
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