Launch of new Tax Directory delayed

The launching of the new Tax Directory of parliamentarians and for all taxpayers including tax payments made by public representatives, members of the National Assembly and the Senate, as well as corporate entities and individuals has been delayed.
Every year, the FBR issues Tax Directory during March. The sixth consecutive Tax Directory (for tax year 2018) was also planned to be launched during March 2020, but apparently delayed due to lockdown across the country.
During the last five years, it is tradition to launch the directory by the concerned Finance Minster, Revenue Minister or Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance/Revenue.
Due to current lockdown of the federal capital, launching ceremony, usually attended by media, private sector, lawyers/consultants, the FBR employees and senior tax officials, cannot be held.
Sources said that the object of launching the Tax Directory was to introduce financial transparency, and sharing information with the public on how much, the public representatives, who have been availing the resources of the country on behalf of the people, have been paying individually as taxes to the exchequer.
It would be the sixth Tax Directory of parliamentarians, which would contain the tax payments made by them with the FBR. All parliamentarians belonging to the National Assembly, the Senate and four provincial assemblies have been requested to file their income tax returns, so that their names can be included in the Tax Directory.
Sources said that work was underway with the commitment that the Tax Directory for Parliamentarians as well as individuals, association of persons and companies would be launched simultaneously.
The need for transparency and accountability in a vibrant democracy imposes extra responsibility on public representatives for disclosure of their assets and the sources of their income.
With these aims and objectives, the FBR published, its first Tax Directory of Parliamentarians in tax year 2013. In line with the incumbent government's reform agenda, Tax Directory embodies the policy of transparency and accountability through access to information.
The publication of the Parliamentarians' Tax Directory is an integral step towards ensuring transparency and informing voters about the taxpaying status of their elected representatives. Tax Directory of the Parliamentarians for the Tax Year 2018 would contain tax details of members of the Senate of Pakistan, and members of the national as well as provincial assemblies.