ISLAMABAD: As many as 31 Pakistanis own more than 55 properties worth around Rs60 billion in Dubai, revealed an official document of Federal Board of Revenue.
According to the document, the UAE tax authorities have exchanged detailed information in respect of 53 Pakistanis having a number of investments in real estate along with copies of passports in 31 cases vide letters dated January 22, 2018 and January 28, 2018, respectively.
The Economic Crimes Wing of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had requested Ministry of Finance of UAE for exchange of information about filthy rich Pakistanis on November 16, 2017.
Some 7,000 Pakistanis have bought properties worth an estimated Rs1.1 trillion in the heart of Dubai in the past one-and-a half decades.
“A list of 100 Pakistani individuals, who have allegedly purchased properties in Dubai/UAE, was received in FBR office from the Director, Economic Crimes Wing, FIA HQ which was forwarded to the head of EOI Unit, Ministry of Finance. The UAE tax authorities through two letters on January 22, 2018 and January 28, 2018, provided the details of 55 transactions of properties made by Pakistani individuals and the copies of 32 passports. Out of these 32 cases, CNIC in 31 cases are available. 29 out of these 31 individuals are registered with the FBR. Only five individuals declared their UAE properties in available FBR record,” read the documents.
FBR also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, as an alternative course of action, to arrange his meeting on this issue with the Ambassador of UAE, revealed the documents. The Foreign Office took up the matter with the Embassy of UAE and wrote many letters but the same also remained unheeded.
FBR further informed the apex court on Thursday that according to the data available with FBR, most of these 29 individuals are regular filers of their income tax returns. Some 27 have filed last five completed tax years’ returns, documents further revealed. All 29 of them have filed at least 7 out of last 10 completed tax years returns and most have filed all the 10, they added.
