The World Bank delegation, on the second day of their visit to the provincial metropolis visited the Medium Taxpayer Unit (MTU) Lahore on Saturday, where they were given briefing on automation, matters relating to audit, and initiatives being taken for broadening the tax-base.
Income Tax Commissioner and MTU chief Khalid Aziz Bantth gave a detailed presentation to the 13-member World Bank delegation on the second and last day of their visit to the regional offices of Central Board of Revenue (CBR).
"The main thrust of the World Bank delegation was on automation, and we told them that it was working with 100 percent accuracy. The chances of tempering of record were non-existent", Khalid told Business Recorder on phone.
He said the World Bank team inquired about the system of refunds and time required for processing and clearance of refunds. "We told them that soon after receiving an application, the process is started and it is completed within shortest possible time", he added. He also said that he also informed the World Bank team about broadening of tax-base and the initiatives taken by the CBR in this regard.
He said the World Bank officials were also apprised that this year no income tax return would be received from salaried persons who had no other source of income. "We further informed them that the government was taking much pain to broaden the tax base. We also informed them that this year we expect 25,000 to 30,000 increase in our taxpayers," the MTU chief said.
The delegation members were much satisfied with working and performance of the MTU Lahore, a model project, which has to be replicated into Regional Tax Office (RTO), Bantth said.
"We also briefed them about the tax management system, under which each and every record of taxpayers whether it pertains to refunds or other matters, is entered into the system successfully", he added.
Later, the World Bank team went to various sections of the MTU and witnessed the working conditions.
The delegation comprising Mudassir Khan, senior financial sector specialist; Michael Engelschalk, senior public sector specialist; Michel Zarnowiecki, senior trade facilitation specialist; Esperanza Lasagabaster, senior financial economist; Erik Puskar, consultant; Amir Munir, information officer; Shabana Khawar, senior operation officer; Syeda Zia Al-Jalaly, social development specialist; Hassan Saqib, senior financial management specialist; Anwar Ali Bhatti, financial analyst; Asif Ali, senior procurement specialist; and Haroon Sharif, DFID, while senior officers from CBR, including Member Tax Policy and Reforms (CBR), Khawaja Tanveer, Director Projects Tax Reforms, CBR, Ghazanfar Abbas Jilani, Secretary CBR, Ms Fareena Mazhar and Second Secretary CBR, Ardsher Tariq, also accompanied the delegation.
Comments
Comments are closed.