ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed on Thursday that more incentives for the business community were being planned which would be offered in the upcoming days.
Addressing 11th All-Pakistan Chambers President Conference in Islamabad, the premier assured the business community that his government will do all to facilitate them.
The prime minister also called for tax collection to be enhanced, assuring that the contribution of taxpayers would not be misspent.
“I assure you that each and every penny of Pakistanis’ tax collection will be spent with great caution. We will terminate all unnecessary expenses. But what I want from you is to tell the people that it is impossible for any country to flourish without paying their taxes,” Khan stressed.
The chief executive clarified that if the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) fails to perform its function, a new authority could be constituted.
“Reforming FBR is essential. Until that, we [the state] will not be able to meet our expenses,” the premier said.
The prime minister said he had been constantly having discussions and meetings with Abdul Razzaq Dawood and Finance Minister Asad Umar on how to generate revenue and make FBR a business-friendly authority.
Imran Khan said Pakistan’s survival is linked to tax collection adding that if tax collection authority does not function properly, it could lead to a security risk.
The prime minister said that effective tax collection was central to any country’s independence warning that constant borrowing eventually becomes a threat to its sovereignty.
The premier offered that he could even be open to reducing down taxes to extend the tax net.
