ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has successfully got development projects worth one billion rupees approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
“The logical arguments presented by the FBR team in the meeting of the CDWP brought about due results and ultimately CDWP had to approve almost all the of the development projects forward by the FBR,” a well-placed source at FBR told this scribe here on Tuesday. The source said that CDWP met a few days back where FBR team presented board’s stance in such a forceful manner that CDWP approved the projects.
“The approved development projects include construction of Tax Development Centres at almost 15 major and crucial stations across the country,” the source added, saying that with the establishment of these centres, efficiency and performance of FBR staff along with volume of revenue would increase by several times.
Currently, Tax Development Centres are functioning at rental buildings at numerous important stations which is not only wastage of national money but also affect the performance of the staff,” the source observed pinpointing Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Sargodha and several other major stations where presently Tax Development Centres were functioning in rental buildings.
The source further said that by spending Rs 1 billion on the establishment of these centres, volume of revenue would increase by many times as such a centre was constructed at Ghotki at the cost of Rs 4 million and it enhanced the revenue collection from same area up to Rs 300 million.
“With centres based at rental buildings, tax collecting officers and staff often come under pressure of the landlord or owner while pursuing tax, income or sales tax cases at domestic and local level,” the source further observed, adding that FBR staff also face numerous problems while safeguarding tax collectors as well as other data and record with offices at rental buildings. The source suggested the government to approve such development projects of the FBR by giving top priority so that FBR would feel encouraged to meet tax revenue collection target.
