FBR blocks over 11,000 SIMS of non-filers
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that it has blocked over 11,000 SIM cards by May 22 under the Income Tax General Order (ITGO), Express News reported.
An FBR spokesperson stated the agency’s commitment to promoting tax compliance and fostering a tax culture, saying that 11,252 SIMS have been blocked so far.FBR blocks over 11,000 SIMS of non-filers۔
ایکسپریس نیوز کی رپورٹ کے مطابق، فیڈرل بورڈ آف ریونیو (ایف بی آر) نے کہا ہے کہ اس نے انکم ٹیکس جنرل آرڈر (آئی ٹی جی او) کے تحت 22 مئی تک 11,000 سے زیادہ سم کارڈز کو بلاک کر دیا ہے۔ ایف بی آر کے ترجمان نے ٹیکس کی تعمیل کو فروغ دینے اور ٹیکس کلچر کو فروغ دینے کے لیے ایجنسی کے عزم کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ اب تک 11,252 سمز بلاک کی جا چکی ہیں۔
He said that the decision to block the SIM cards was communicated to mobile companies during a meeting with telecommunications firms.
The representative said that the public authority has ordered the obstructing of cell phone SIM cards having a place with non-filers, which will be upheld for any reason. The FBR has additionally initiated the actual investigation of telecom organizations’ records, zeroing in on those that neglected to submit consistency reports in regards to the impeding of SIM cards for people not documenting their government forms.
The FBR’s Magistrate
The FBR’s Magistrate for Inland Income, Zone IV, gave a request for the review under Area 175 of the Personal Expense Statute. Following up on this request, an FBR group examined the workplace of a telecom organization situated in the Blue Area of Islamabad on Wednesday. During the examination, organization authorities gave a consistence report itemizing the obstructing of SIM cards as per the FBR’s Annual Duty General Request. The organization affirmed to the assessment group that they had distinguished non-filers and sent them notices with respect to their obstructed SIM cards. Authorities expressed that the Inland Income Magistrate’s structure expected the chief officials of three telecom organizations to hinder the SIM cards of non-filers and present a consistence report by May 21, following the FBR’s mandate given on April 29.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) :
In separate notices to the telecom companies, it was indicated that inspections would be carried out by a team comprising authorized officers from Inland Revenue and technical experts from Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL).
The principal officers were instructed to cooperate fully with the FBR inspection team and provide all necessary facilities. The order further warned that failure to comply would result in appropriate actions, including the imposition of fines.
According to sources, a telecom company obtained a stay order from a court regarding the blocking of SIM cards, and no action has been taken against the company so far.
During a hearing for vacating the stay order in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Chief Justice Aamer Farooq indicated that the matter should be resolved promptly. He emphasized that it would be preferable to decide on the main petition concerning the blocking of SIM cards.
Chief Justice Farooq:
Chief Justice Farooq clarified that the stay order was not intended to block the SIM cards but to protect the petitioners. He also noted that the government’s directive to block the SIM cards of non-filers remains in effect.
The court suggested the next hearing of the matter in June and asked both parties to agree to a date and inform the court. Later, the hearing was adjourned.