ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the current government was determined to achieve revenue collection targets through reforms and the required legislation in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, to honour the officers of FBR who rendered commendable services for revenue collection, the prime minister said that the targeted revenue collection remained one of the biggest challenges in Pakistan and he required fair and competent officers to resolve the issue.
Shahbaz Sharif also directed the concerned authorities to make necessary legislation to ensure that only competent and diligent officials are rewarded and promoted to higher positions.
The prime Minister further stated that the incumbent government has fulfilled its promise of having reforms in FBR adding that strict action would be taken against incompetent officials and those either facilitators, supporters or involved in corruption.
The Prime Minister lamented that tax-related claims worth over Rs2,700 billion were pending in different courts, for which a law has been made to make arrangements for resolving these pending issues. He said once ratified by President the law would be implemented accordingly.
PM Honours FBR Officers
Earlier, the Prime Minister distributed shields and awards among officers having excellent performance in the institution followed by cash prize announcements by the PM for hardworking officers.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance, Muhammad Aurangzeb said that the government has identified the relevant weaknesses in the tax collection system and efforts are being made to improve it.
He informed that out of three million industrial and commercial electricity and gas connections, only 0.2 million were registered for sales tax.
