ISLAMABAD, Jan 1 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif Friday announced a Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme for the traders and said it would help increase revenues and take the country forward on path of progress and development.
Addressing a large gathering here at the Prime
Minister’s Office to launch the Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme by
the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), he said the scheme would prove as a new positive era of close collaboration between FBR and trading community.
The Prime Minister lauded the resolution of a long-
standing dispute between the government and the different
trade bodies over the issue of taxation and said all the
stakeholders who played a part in the matter, deserved
appreciation.
He said the congenial atmosphere developed would help
take the country forward on the path of progress and
prosperity.
He said good government-trader ties would help end
poverty, counter terrorism, create employment and bring peace across the country, particularly in the country’s nerve centre of Karachi.
He said his government took head-on the major challenges
when it took over in 2013 and added that various sectors
resultantly witnessed a sea change.
He said there was a need to make progress in all areas
may it be the shortage of electricity and natural gas, road
infrastructure, poor economy, terrorism, or relations with
India and Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Sharif said his government believed in
addressing the issues with a spirit of tolerance,
understanding and statesmanship, so as to help take the
country forward on the path of development.
He said a nation which addresses all issues with
consensus, can achieve the most difficult of tasks.
The Prime Minister said his government believed that
taxes need to be brought down to a level, where the trading
community feel comfortable and encouraged to play their part in national development.
Prime Minister Sharif said his government believed in
addressing all issues with transparency and cited the example of setting of three new power plants that would cost only Rs 60 billion, against their stipulated cost of Rs 100 billion.
He said he was proud that the national exchequer managed
to save precious Rs 40 billion that would be spent on other
development projects. He said a number of power projects
were being setup that would help the country meet its energy shortage.
The prime minister also directed the Chairman FBR to
direct his staff to ensure that no person was pressurised
unjustifiably and the taxpayers are treated with respect to
encourage the people pay their taxes.
He said he was pleased to announce the tax amnesty
scheme for the trading community on the first day of 2016 and urged all to play their part in nation building.
The representatives of traders community presented a
gold medal to the Prime Minister for taking personal interest
in amicably resolving the issue of taxation between the
government and traders.
