ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal informed the Senate that government took various steps to broaden tax net adding that 100,000 new people were brought into tax net. Concluding discussion on a commenced motion moved by Shibili Faraz regarding steps taken by the government to broaden the tax net in the country, the minister said national data base was set up in Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) and data was being collected from various departments.
He said that owing to NADRA integrated data, such people were identified which helped broaden the tax net. The minister said that non-expenditures had increased due to un-necessary employments in past in various department. Regarding, agricultural tax, the minister said that the provincial governments were responsible for imposing agricultural tax and the provinces had already taken some steps in this regard.
Earlier, speaking on the adjournment motion, Shibili Faraz said that our expenditure had increased than income. He said that no government took un-popular decision to broaden tax net. He said that FBR mostly focused on indirect taxes rather than direct tax. Mian Attiq said that around 85,6929 people were paying tax and some of them only pay Rs 100 tax.
He said 30 lac people could be brought into direct tax net. Azam Swati was of the view that those who regularly pay tax were being burden and said that direct tax on elite should be imposed for broadening tax net.
Ayesha Raza Farooq said un-popular decision had to be taken to document the tax adding “We have to support the government for better tax regime”.
Mohsin Azia said that the salary class, importer and exporter, traders and government contractors were only paying tax.
He said that tax base should be broadening by imposing tax on big shopping centers. Saher Karmran was of the views that 0.6 per cent withholding tax of bank withdrawal would affect the banking and economy of the country.
He said that tax should be linked to NADRA system. Saeed Ghani called for reforms in FBR and tax mechanism. He said that CNIC should be converted into NTN number and it should also be linked with every transaction.
Ilyas Bilour said that shopkeeper did not want to come into tax net. He said that income of FBR officials and their properties should also be examined
