ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said that the government wouldnot extend the deadline of the tax amnesty scheme ending on June 30, 2019and appealed to the people to declare their assets or face confiscation andpunishment.
Talking to the Geo News’ special program “Pakistan Kay Liye Kar Dalo”, theprime minister said the government had collected unprecedented data thathad never been done by any government in the past.
He said the incumbent government had also promulgated law on benami bankaccounts and properties which provided for the confiscation of undeclaredassets besides punishment.
“The worst diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart ailments arecaused by mental stress. In the coming days, we will be compelled tocollect taxes from the people and punish the tax evaders. We have toconfiscate your undeclared assets. Make your life easy…This is goldenopportunity for you to steer us (the country out of economic crisis) aswell as save yourself from difficult time in future,” he advised.
He said Pakistan currently stood at the crossroads of do or die. Thecountry was among the lowest tax payers nations and half of the collectedtax went to the repayment of the interest on foreign loans.
He said the country had no other option but either to become a tax-payingcivilized nation or face the consequence. The prime minister said thatthe country’s economic condition had reached to that extent just due tocorruption and non-payment of taxes.
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He assured the people that the government would spend the tax-money fortheir welfare, and not for the luxury of the ruling class as had beenpracticed in the past. The prime minister told the nation that thegovernment had already reduced its expenditures by slashing the budgets ofthe PM House, Pakistan Army, besides 10 percent cut in the ministers’salaries.
He said even he did not make any foreign visit until it was beneficial forthe country. He said he was also invited to London for the cricket worldcup event but he did not go there.
To a question, the prime minister said he had directed his team toestablish a special helpline to receive complaints against any harassmentby Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Even the complainants would also be ableto access him (the prime minister) through the online citizen portal.
He resolved that he and Chairman FBR Shabbar Zaidi had committed to reformthe FBR to eliminate its fear among the people.
