ISLAMABAD - Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Syed Khursheed Shah has said that notices may be issued to FBR and other investigative organisations for not taking steps to probe the Panama Leaks.
The issue of Panama leaks landed in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) when PTI’s MNA drew the attention of the PAC chairman in the meeting held here on Friday. “I have received application and notices may be issued in this regard,” said Chairman PAC while responding to concerns raised by PTI MNA Arif Alvi in the meeting.
Alvi, a member of PAC, was of the view that FBR and other investigative organisations had not taken any notice in three months against the alleged accused for having off-shore companies. He further said that neighbouring country’s (India)’ revenue board have started probe in same case but no action was taken in our country.
“Around 600 names of Pakistanis are included in the Panama papers...This is a political matter and I have given an application in this regard to Chairman PAC,” said PTI’s MNA.
“FBR, NAB, Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan and FIA have so far taken no action on this matter,” he added.
He said that almost names of seven politicians were mentioned in the Panama Leaks and rest of names belonged to other walks of life.
He urged the PAC to summon Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), State Bank of Pakistan, Security Exchanges and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for failing to take any steps against the offshore companies.
Chairman PAC Syed Khursheed Shah said he had received application in this regard. ”Notices will be issued to FBR and other investigative organisations for not taking any measures in the matter of Panama Leaks,” he added.
The Chairman FBR told the committee that this matter was being discussed with international forum. “Soon satisfactory response will be given to the committee,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Nisar Muhammad Khan said that FBR has decided to conduct the audit of withholding tax being deducted by various cellular companies on recharge of mobile phone cards and bank account holders.
The PAC has expressed dissatisfaction over the process of receiving of taxes and their utilisation of the amount collecting through mobile phone cards.
Chairman PAC Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, commenting on the particular matter, said that cellular companies were not sharing correct information about revenue collections from subscribers.
He also ordered the concerned departments to provide detailed report about collecting sales tax on mobile cards in FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan.
About the method of collection of taxes on mobiles cards by cellular companies, Chairman FBR Nisar Muhammad Khan told the committee that FBR was collecting 14 per cent withholding taxes on mobile cards.