Iftikhar Qutab, Chairperson, Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) said on Saturday that the direct collection of sales tax on services will enable the Punjab government to contain the probable drainage of revenue as the authority will soon become a reliable source of multiple benefits to the province.
In his message to the taxpayers' community particularly service providers, Iftikhar Qutab stated that the PRA will soon become a reliable source of multiple benefits to the province of Punjab. Focused and dedicated tax management will ensure efficient generation of tax revenues, increased facilitation to and motivation-based interaction with taxpayers will boost the confidence of the service sector businesses to contribute more fairly towards the development needs of the Punjab.
Direct collection of sales tax on services will enable the Punjab Government to contain the probable drainage of revenue as was typically happening previously. Surely, regular direct receipts of sales tax will reduce the dependence of Punjab's development struggle on exterior channels. In nutshell, Punjab will enjoy its inalienable rights for development and prosperity through its own revenue income, he said.
He stated that the PRA is therefore, in dire need of encouragement and co-operation from the people of Punjab. Paying to the Government its due taxes is the best expression of nationalism and PRA is fully hopeful that this expression will come up with more visible appearance from the people of Punjab in the context of Punjab Government's efforts to generate more resources for accelerated development and progress of the province. PRA believes that tax is a duty to the nation and people of Punjab will sincerely come forward to perform this duty to the utmost satisfaction of their collective conscience.
Iftikhar Qutab stated that a fair and strong tax culture is no doubt one of the major source-cum-effort of a nation whereby it can contribute more effectively towards guaranteeing and securing better sustainable and all-inclusive development.
Punjab Revenue Authority believes that Pakistan as a nation has tremendous potential to develop and vindicate a strong and lasting tax culture. Creation of PRA is an unprecedented endeavour of the Punjab Government to actualise this national potential. In honour of the country's constitutional responsibilities, PRA has initiated collection of sales tax on services in the province of Punjab. Without levying any new tax or without increasing any tax rate on services inherited from the previous sale tax tradition, PRA has evolved its own legal and administrative system to receive and manage sales tax on services, Iftikhar Qutab added.