Minister for Finance on Wednesday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure that common men were not adversely affected by tax measures in the upcoming budget for next year. He also directed that the FBR might also continue to pursue the aim of tax payers facilitation to promote tax culture. The minister was chairing a meeting here at the Finance Division to review the progress with regard to the preparation and finalisation of revenue budget.
FBR Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan briefed the meeting on different proposals submitted by various trade and industry bodies, chambers and associations for inclusion in the budget 2016-17. He also gave an account of the recommendations made by the Tax Reform Commission.
Haroon Akhtar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue, said the spade work for the budget had been completed and consultations with different spheres including chambers of commerce and different ministries had been undertaken to make sure that views of all the stakeholders were heard before finalising the budget proposals. Meanwhile, chairing another meeting here on Wednesday, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar reviewed preparations for the presentation of Budget 2016-17 in the Parliament in the first week of June.
Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood Khan briefed the meeting on the detailed plan for the presentation of budget. The Secretary informed that the preparations for the upcoming budget were in progress and the ministry had been able to meet the timelines agreed at the beginning of the exercise.
He said the process of consultation with different ministries was almost complete and their recommendations had been incorporated in most cases. The minister expressed satisfaction on the progress of work. He directed that interest of the general public should be kept in view while finalising the budget proposals. He also issued directions regarding further consultations with other government entities on proposals which had not yet been finalised.