โข Pakistan introduces FBR mobile application for the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for small traders
โข Pakistan officially approaches United States Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility
ISLAMABAD: The Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb once again stressed on Wednesday the need for a simpler tax return form for salaried individuals as there was โno logicโ in having such a complex procedure for one of the most documented groups in the country.
He made the comment while addressing the media at the Federal Board of Revenue headquarters on the occasion of launching a mobile app for Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme which will allow small traders and shopkeepers to register and submit their tax returns through their cell phones.
The finance minister was joined by the Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and other traders in a press conference.
โDo you think there is any logic in such a complex form? Even an MBA graduate can find it difficult to fill it out,โ the finance minister remarked.
He observed that approximately 70 percent of income earned from salaries had been automatically deducted from bank accounts and thus, there was hardly any opportunity left for earning extra money through multiple sources to justify such a complex process of filling up taxes.
โAsaan Tajirโ app launched
The recently launched app includes an easy-to-fill form in Urdu language and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store using the icon โAsaan Tajirโ.
A PSID will be generated for the trader at the time of registration and it will enable him to file his tax using the app.
Once the tax amount has been paid, traders will be informed about the registration process and how they have become eligible for certain facilities offered to them.
State Minister Bilal Azhar informed that the app will also be launched on Appleโs App store in a few days.
Versions of the app in other languages such as Pashto, Balochi and Sindhi will be launched by the first week of September.
They could contact the focal office and officers at Regional Tax Offices in their districts as well, he stated.
Mr Azhar showed a physical green identity card having security markings which would be provided to the participating traders.
He told that those traders who register themselves under the program before the deadline for filing taxes will get the card for free. The final cost of the card will not exceed Rs1,500.
Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue Rashid Mahmood Langrial said that once the trader displayed the card, no official of the FBR would visit the shop of any genuine registered shopkeeper for tax purpose.
He hoped that this program would have a positive response both in terms of registration and tax collection.
This program was launched prior to the federal budget announcement scheduled on June 5. After the announcement of the budget, the government worked on the application and identity card.
US support facility
Addressing the media, the finance minister further explained that Pakistan had officially requested for US Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility in its attempts to strengthen the rupee, stabilize the foreign exchange reserves, and reduce the need for repeated rollovers of its loans.
He informed the media that negotiations between Pakistan and the US had been going on and that Pakistan expects a response from either US Treasury or US Exim Bank by the end of September 2026.
It has been reported that the request of $10 billion dollars was being made in order to show confidence in the economy of Pakistan rather than as a regular loan.
According to Mr Aurangzeb, Pakistan was also considering moving towards the maturity periods of five, seven, and 10 years for reducing dependency on bilateral rollovers.
