KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Abdullah Zaki has said that instead of issuing a tax directory of existing taxpayers, the government should publicize those tax evaders whose details have already been acquired by Federal Board of Revenue from banks and National Database Registration Authority.
In a statement, President KCCI expressed deep concerns over Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s directives to FBR to issue a tax directory of more than 850,000 existing taxpayers including members of the parliament and provincial assemblies, which is highly unfair as these taxpayers are already holding NTN numbers and have been fully documented by FBR.
He further complained that on the other hand, the tax evaders, who are living luxurious lives, frequently flying abroad, and maintaining enormous properties along with sizeable bank accounts are deliberately being ignored, Abdullah noted, adding that instead of issuing a tax directory of existing taxpayers, the government must publicize the tax evaders by disclosing their names and photos.
He was of the view that publishing this futile tax directory of existing taxpayers will only provide opportunities to criminals who can easily assess the financial strength of various taxpayers and will obviously threaten them to pay extortion money.
“It will intensify problems for the business community and I urge the authorities to refrain from publishing this confidential information and focus on taking the tax evaders into the tax net”, he added.
