ISLAMABAD: Nearly 10,000 shopkeepers have registered under Pakistan’s Asan Tax Scheme within a month of its launch, the government said Friday.
Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani chaired a review meeting on the scheme, where officials said 9,806 shopkeepers have registered and are at various stages of filing their tax returns. Of those, 1,929 are entering the tax system for the first time, while 428 have already filed returns.
Shopkeepers from both small and major cities were among those who filed, officials said.
Kayani directed the Federal Board of Revenue to immediately resolve technical objections raised by shopkeepers and tax lawyers regarding the scheme’s implementation. He also instructed authorities to issue FBR plates to shopkeepers who have filed their returns at the earliest.
“The Asan Tax Scheme is a unique facility designed specifically for shopkeepers and not available to any other business segment,” Kayani said, urging more shopkeepers to join and saying there was no reason for them to remain non-filers.
The meeting decided to maintain daily contact between traders and FBR officials to facilitate implementation and strengthen engagement with tax bars and lawyers.
Officials said an Urdu-language information booklet had been issued explaining the scheme, the previous procedure for filing returns and penalties applicable after the deadline. Under the scheme, penalties of 10,000 rupees will apply in the first month after the deadline, 25,000 rupees in the second month and 50,000 rupees in the third month.
Trader representatives assured the meeting of their cooperation, describing the scheme as a positive initiative while noting that creating awareness among shopkeepers would take time.
Trader leaders Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry, Member Strategic Transformation Dr Hamid Atiq, Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal and senior FBR officials attended the meeting. Chief commissioners and commissioners from across the country participated via video link.
