ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has lauded the efforts of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) team for not only achieving the target of Rs3,104 billion in the outgoing fiscal year (2015-16) but also making surplus collection of Rs3,412 billion.
The minister appreciated the FBR team while addressing a function organised at FBR House to acknowledge the FBR’s efforts. Advisor Haroon Tareen, FBR officers of Grade 19, 20 and 21 of Inland Revenue Service and Customs Department, and Chief Collectors, Chief Commissioners and Director Generals from North, Central and South regions were also present on the occasion.
Ishaq Dar said that continuous growth in revenue collection helped reduced the fiscal deficit to almost half from 8.8 per cent to 4.45pc. He urged the tax officials to do more for achieving the target of Rs3,621 billion set for 2016-17.
Dar said the target for the current fiscal year has been increased almost by Rs500 billion, which would be a historic growth. He expressed his confidence over FBR Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khan and his team that the tax net would be broadened and targets would be achieved.
The finance minister said that more work is needed to be done in information technology sector and mitigating the leakages besides making the sales tax system a robust one. He said that the government had to take difficult decisions and make reforms, adding it had to face resistance but it did this to lead the country towards progress and development.
Dar said that the dream of becoming 18th biggest economy could be achieved in half duration till 2030, provided the economic policies continue with the same pace.
