PM Nawaz Sharif announces Voluntary Tax Filing Scheme for traders

Lahore: 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 , 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 pressurized 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.