ISLAMABAD – The Finance Minister Asad Umar has hinted over revising theincentive given to the non filers in the budget.
He says he’s ready to reconsider the budget proposal of lifting ban on thenon-filers of tax returns wishing to purchase property and new cars — amove that sparked controversy, as it meant incentivising the tax-evadersand penalising the taxpayers.
“Yes, it can be reconsidered. There shouldn’t be an ego problem. I amneither all-knowing nor I have any personal interest in granting thiswaiver. We have invited suggestions to identify genuine cases among themwhere exemption merits,” Asad told The News on Saturday.
“Where I am convinced that the cases merit exemptions, it will be done.This is my personal opinion. Final decision will be taken collectively,” heexplained.
During his budget speech late on Tuesday, Asad had justified the proposedwaiver for non-filers on the ground that the ban slapped by the PML-Ngovernment had hurt the overseas Pakistanis intending to invest in the realestate. As the controversy raged on, two other reasons were listed indefense of the waiver by the financial wizards of the government.
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The ban on non-filers is in violation of fundamental rights prescribed inArticle 23 of the Constitution, according to the State Minister for FinanceHammad Azhar.
That it has also affected the transfer of inherited property, as doing soalso required the beneficiary to be a filer is another excuse.
