ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Tuesday) has asserted that the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) automated Track & Trace (T&T) System was crucial to check mass tax evasion.
Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad, the Prime Minister directed Law Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem to work on getting vacated the stay order by the Sindh High Court (SHC).
The premier opined that the non-imposition of the automated system would incur a loss of billions to the country. He said FBR had been making efforts for last 15 years to implement the T&T System, however, regretted that the move was “sabotaged” every time.
He pointed out that big sectors of the economy including tobacco, cement and sugar were witnessing mass tax evasion. “Approximately 40 percent of cigarettes are sold without paying taxes, and sugar industry alone did not pay the tax of Rs 400 billion in five years,” he added,
The premier further said that the objective behind informing the federal cabinet was to make the members aware of the kind of tax evasion being done in the country. “Until this system is in place, we cannot stop tax evasion,” he remarked.
On Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), PM Imran pointed out that the system was important to ensure transparency in general polls and check the corrupt practice of vote-purchase.
Terming the provision of online voting for overseas Pakistan his priority, the premier stressed an effective strategy for its implementation. He also sought progress reports in every cabinet meeting on the matters of installation of EVM and voting process for overseas Pakistanis.
