The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified its crackdown on non-filers nationwide, with 230,000 Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) blocked by telecom companies upon FBR’s recommendation. A spokesperson revealed that 76,636 of these SIMs were reinstated after individuals filed their tax returns.
Speaking to a private TV news channel, the FBR spokesperson disclosed that the agency is daily providing data on 5,000 individuals to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for SIM blocking purposes, stressing that SIMs are blocked preemptively pending investigation.
Addressing concerns sparked by the budget for 2024-25, the FBR clarified distinctions between filers and non-filers, emphasizing that only 2.5 million out of Pakistan’s population of 250 million are non-filers who fail to submit tax returns despite having taxable income.
The spokesperson reassured specific groups, stating that students holding CNICs and household women need not fear SIM blockage. Non-filers, according to the FBR, include individuals who do not fulfill their tax obligations despite having taxable earnings.
The FBR announced its intention to collaborate with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to prevent non-filers from traveling abroad, underscoring the government’s proposal to levy heavy taxes and other measures against non-filers in the upcoming fiscal year.
