ISLAMABAD (News Desk) – In a major crackdown on tax evasion, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ordered telecom companies to deactivate over 9,100 SIM cards belonging to individuals who have failed to file their tax returns.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Ahmed Khan revealed that the tax authority has identified more than 550,000 individuals as non-filers and provided data on 30,000 such cases to telecom operators for immediate action.
“We will continue to share data on additional 5,000 non-filers daily, and their SIM cards will also be deactivated until they fulfill their tax obligations,” Khan warned.
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The FBR has imposed a steep 90% withholding tax on mobile top-ups for non-filers as a measure to encourage compliance with tax laws. The move comes after initial resistance from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cellular companies in deactivating the SIM cards despite requests.
These stringent actions are part of the government’s efforts to enforce tax compliance, ensure fair taxation practices, and improve revenue collection in the telecom sector, which has long been plagued by tax evasion and non-compliance.
Experts have lauded the FBR’s firm stance, stating that such measures are crucial for improving Pakistan’s tax revenue and fostering a culture of accountability among citizens and businesses alike.
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