ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Strategic Planning and Spokesman Dr Mohammad Iqbal said that the government has decided to grant time on Panama Leaks and Bahamas Leaks issue.
During an exclusive interview with Customs Today, Dr Iqbal said that around 150 Pakistanis are named in Bahamas Leaks while the FBR issued notices to 30 individuals and remaining notices will be issued to them in near future. He said that after receiving the notices only 20 people submitted their replies to the FBR while some individuals sought time for submission of their replies.
Dr. Mohammad Iqbal said that there is no agreement of the FBR regarding tax information with any other institution. He said that the FBR issued notices to Pakistanis whose names were mentioned in Bahamas Leaks on the pattern of Panama Leaks issue. He said that the FBR is facing hurdles in collecting of their residential addresses and other information. He said that it is a legal issue and the department is in process of collecting relevant information about this.
He said even after getting membership of OECD we are unable to share any information about Panama Leaks and Bahamas Leaks with other countries because Panama and Bahamas are members of OECD. He said that present government achieved the credit to get membership of OECD. He said that Pakistan will definitely take benefits of OECD membership. Dr. Mohammad Iqbal said that after getting solid evidences against individuals whose names are mentioned in Panama Leaks and Bahamas Leaks, FBR will be in a position to take any legal action against them. He said that FBR is taking up this issue seriously and working on it but this issue should not be dealt as political issue.
FBR Member Dr. Iqbal said that FBR adopting people friendly policies and working to bring more people under tax net without harassing them. He said that FBR is trying hard to promote tax culture in the country. He said that if we really want to get rid of foreign loans we have to promote tax culture in our society. He said that it is our national duty to pay tax because its vital to strengthen our national economy. Dr. Iqbal said that we are optimistic that we will achieve revenue collection target set for current fiscal year.
FBR Member Dr. Iqbal said that lot of people are earning in billions but avoiding to pay taxes willfully. He said that we should discourage such elements which are spoiling of society.
He said that FBR obtained data of persons who earns in billions but they failed to pay even a single penny to national kitty. He said that tax culture will create its own way. He said that FBR already warn to people who are earning handsome revenue to pay taxes according to law otherwise stern action will be taken against them. Dr. Iqbal said that no country can run on loans and donations we have to depend on ourselves to choose road of progress and prosperity.
He said that main objective of withholding tax on banking transactions is to make non filers as filers. He said that a strong tax culture is symbol of progress and prosperity so it is our national duty that we should pay taxes according to our income and consider it as our national duty.
