Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has noted a proposal to approve arrests of dealers involved in tax fraud, following growing concerns expressed by the country’s business community.
The question was discussed during a high -level meeting as chairman of the Prime Minister on Monday. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and senior legal officials were present.
According to officials who are familiar with the discussions, the financial bill includes a provision that would allow FBR to arrest people involved in tax fraud with sanctions extending up to 10 years in prison.
The move has drawn criticism from Pakistan’s business community. The Pakistani Business Council formally wrote to the Prime Minister and called for a review of FBR’s proposed enforcement powers.
Sources said the Prime Minister was informed of the potential legal and financial consequences of the measure and have requested further considerations before a final decision is made.
FBR claims that forces are needed to tackle sustained tax evasion, which continues to inhibit the country’s income collection. However, critics and business members argue that such powers, if not controlled, could be abused and harm the confidence of the business.
In addition, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to equip the country’s youth with advanced skills to drive local transformation and increase employment and increase employment.
He said training programs should be adapted to the market’s need to ensure that young people can be hired both domestic and internationally.
Sharif added that efforts would be made to ensure a stable supply of skilled IT professionals to local companies, enabling them to meet global standards and contribute to the exchange rate.
