Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla has hailed the services of former Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Nisar Muhammad Khan and acknowledged him for collecting a revenue target of Rs 3100 billion during his tenure.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla hosted a dinner in the honour of Nisar Muhammad Khan to pay tribute to his services. Speaking at the dinner, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that "The sole stress of FBR on irrationally fixed revenue targets has created an ugly fiscal mess. As a result Pakistan has been pushed into a 'debt prison", Government has failed to broaden the tax net and crack down on untaxed assets and ill-begotten wealth. He added. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that FBR should enforce a strong policy against tax evasion. The powerful tax evaders-who are earning billions-living a luxurious lifestyle but not paying tax for the country, they are moving freely. FBR must make efforts to bring them in the tax net. He said that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had submitted a Tax Reform Bill in the Parliament- a plan devised for shifting from indirect to direct taxes, expanding the tax base and taxing the untaxed sectors but the idea seems to have been abandoned to the detriment of the people and development.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that Pakistan's tax rules and regulations are extremely complicated which encourages a non transparent system, especially for indirect taxes, and some taxpayers do not have the capacity to understand their obligations which needs to be simplified. This problem needs to be given due attention.
Senate Standing Finance & Revenue committee Member Senator Mohsin Laghari and PPP leaders Naveed Qamar, Nafeesa Shah, Rubina Khalid and senior officials of the FBR were also participated in the dinner. Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance Qaiser Sheikh was also present.-PR