PM Shehbaz directs swift action against tax defaulters, tax evaders Achi-News

PM Shehbaz directs swift action against tax defaulters, tax evaders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered that urgent action be taken against tax defaulters and tax evaders.

The prime minister directed for the constitution of a committee to identify the obstacles and those responsible in the tracking and tracing system. The committee would identify the obstacles and people involved in tax evasion within seven days.

The prime minister chaired a meeting regarding the implementation of the Track and Trace System in Islamabad, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The committee would be tasked with presenting proposals in the future regarding the enforcement of an automatic tax system in factories and industries.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers including Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jehanzaib Khan, FBR Chairman Malik Amjad Zubair Tiwana and other senior officials.

The prime minister asked why the system is still inoperative?

He observes that this system should have been made operational in tobacco, sugar, cement and fertilizer industries during the last two years, adding that the system should be installed in other important sectors of the economy.

He said that all legal hurdles should be removed in enforcing the track and trace system.

The prime minister directed that a system should be enforced on all production lines of cement factories, besides summoning a comprehensive plan for digital strategy and automated tracking and tracing system.

He further directed that all those factories which opposed the implementation of the track and trace system should be sealed immediately.

Apart from revenue, he was of the opinion that that system could also be used for fake and substandard products.

The prime minister asked for an end to fake and unregistered cigarettes and their destruction.

The country was facing economic problems and mafia with their tolerance had been causing damages to the national cat, he added.

The prime minister also sought the help of the international organizations in the tracking and tracing system.

The meeting was informed in detail about the obstacles in terms of implementing the automated tracking and tracing system in the cement, sugar, fertilizer and tobacco sectors.

The meeting was told that the system was fully operational in 14 tobacco factories, and that another 12 had been sealed for non-compliance.

The system was fully operational in the fertilizer industry while it faced problems in sugar and cement factories due to some technical issues being addressed.

The meeting was further informed that raids were being carried out on guardians throughout the country in order to control smuggling.

The prime minister directed that the law enforcement agencies should assist FBR.