ایف بی آرتقریبات

A day-long Commissioner’s Conference, attended by all chief commissioners and commissioners of various filed formations of FBR, was held in the federal capital on March 9, 2011 to review progress in revenue collection and discuss measures and strategies for achieving the overall target of Rs 1604 billion.

The conference was chaired by Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh who also delivered a keynote address to the concluding session of the conference which was also attended by FBR Chairman Mr. Salman Siddique, Member Inland Revenue) Khawar Khursheed Butt, Member (Customs) Mumtaz Alam Rizvi, Member (FATE) Riffat Shaheen Qazi, Additional Secretary (Revenue) Asrar Raouf and other Members and senior officials of FBR.

Addressing the conference, Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh called for concerted efforts to expand the tax net and broaden the tax base. He said the public had high expectations from FBR and it was important for the men at FBR to strive and show exceptional performance in order to achieve the revenue collection of Rs. 1604 billion.

Dr. Hafeez said all the officials of FBR were professionally talented and were capable enough to help meet the challenges. “If other developed countries have 18-20 per cent tax to GDP ratio, why Pakistan has only 10 per cent ratio”, he asked the officers, adding achievement of the target was possible through extra efforts and dedication.

The minister called upon the rich and affluent sections of the society to come forward and contribute towards national development by paying their due tax and helping in the government efforts for socio-economic development. “It is not only a political requirement to expand the tax net but also a requirement of justice”, he added.

Earlier, Member (Inland Revenue) Mr. Khawar Khsurheed Butt welcomed the participants of the conference and gave them a detailed presentation on the problems areas with regard to tax collection and exchanged views with the officers to enhance revenue and meet the annual collection targets. He told the participants the country was passing through a critical phase and revenue generation was the only way to end country’s dependence on the external capital flows.

Later, FBR Chairman Mr. Salman Siddique, Member Inland Revenue) Khawar Khursheed Butt, Member (Customs) Mumtaz Alam Rizvi, Member (FATE) Riffat Shaheen Qazi briefed the media on the revenue measures and strategies for achieving the Rs 1604 billion revenue target.