ISLAMABAD – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has registered an FIRagainst Shaheen Air International (SAI), the country’s second-largestairline for alleged tax evasion and fraud worth billions. According tosources, PKR 955 million is the total amount the airline has to pay.
It is worth pointing out that while the airline charged its customers thetaxable amount under federal excise duty, it did not bother to pay it tothe national exchequer.
The Large Taxpayer Unit (LTU) Karachi registered the FIR due to a complaintmade by Irfan Ahmed, an Inland Revenue Inspector, after finding out thatthe airline hadn’t deposited its sales tax returns.
Since May of last year, aside from special Hajj flights and the flight thatretrieved the stranded Pakistanis in China, all flight operations have beenhalted by the airline and according to reliable information, the ownershave fled the country. There is not a single official in Pakistan and thecompany has closed its operations in the country according to an officialof the Karachi airport services.
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All the departments under the FBR authorities have been directed for arapid response against tax evaders across the country and a few recoverieshave been made as well. Action against those who were found defaultingduring the audit is underway and tax demand orders had been issued, saidFBR officials.
