Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took note of a proposal to authorize the arrests of traders involved in tax fraud, following increasing concerns expressed by the country’s business world.
The question was discussed at a high -level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Monday. The Minister of Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, President of the Federal Board of Return (FBR), and senior legal officials were present.
According to familiar officials with discussions, the finance bill includes a provision that would allow the FBR to arrest those involved in tax fraud, the sanctions extending up to 10 years in prison.
This decision aroused criticism from the Pakistan business community. Pakistan Business Council has officially written to the Prime Minister, urging an examination of the application powers proposed by the FBR.
Sources said the Prime Minister had been informed of the potential legal and economic implications of the measure and asked for new deliberations before any final decision was made.
The FBR claims that powers are necessary to combat persistent tax evasion, which continues to hinder the collection of the country’s income. However, criticisms and members of the business world argue that these powers, if they are not controlled, could be used to unhealthy and harm businesses.
In addition, presiding over an examination meeting on the development of the computer training ecosystem, the Prime Minister stressed the need to provide young people in the country with advanced skills to stimulate local transformation and stimulate employment.
He said that training programs should be aligned on market needs to ensure that young people are employable both at national and international level.
Sharif added that efforts would be made to ensure a stable offer of qualified IT professionals for local businesses, allowing them to comply with global standards and contribute to exchange benefits.
