PM also congratulated Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and his economic team over the resolution of the dispute between the government and trade bodies regarding taxation and termed the Tax Filing Scheme as a “good start” of the new year.
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He said the congenial atmosphere developed would help take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity.
The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry also welcomed the amnesty scheme announced by the Prime Minister aimed at broadening of extremely narrow tax base and termed it a move in right direction.
Nawaz Sharif said that the government wants to take along all sections with consensus. The Prime Minister asked traders to cooperate with the government for the development of the country and directed FBR to simplify the tax system and make public-friendly policies.
He said now only about 100,000 traders were paying their taxes and this package would help hundreds of thousands of more traders to enter the tax net. Strengthened economy would result in strengthened army, he added. The scheme aims at convincing traders to file tax returns without any hesitation, he added.
Ishaq Dar, in his speech, said that everyone barring parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies and those involved in terrorism, money laundering and Illegal narcotics trade can benefit from the voluntary tax compliance scheme.
There are over 3.5 million traders across the country who are keen to take advantage of the scheme, APAT Secretary General Naeem Mir said while addressing a press conference at a local hotel.
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Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Nisar Muhammad Khan said that traders, using the scheme would be exempted from audit.
