ISLAMABAD   -   Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) have taken a significant step to promote ease of doing business and facilitate taxpayers by launching a one-window facility for registration of Sole Proprietor (Individual)/Association of Persons (AOP) in the government of Punjab’s Business Portal and FBR. This facility enables applicants to be registered with Punjab Business Portal and FBR in one go without visiting FBR’s field offices or its website. As a first step applicants will apply for registration on PITB’s Business Registration Portal (BRP) (https://business.punjab.gov.pk/). As soon as an applicant is registered in BRP, the system will cross-verify registration profile in FBR’s database. If applicant is not registered with FBR, the system shall automatically register the applicant and send confirmation email and SMS to the applicant. If an applicant is already registered with FBR, registration data will be shared with BRP. In line with policy of the Prime Minister, the automation and integration of the above mentioned registration process will significantly reduce taxpayer hassle and help in creating an environment conducive for smoothly and efficiently running businesses in Pakistan. 

3 million sticks of illicit cigarette confiscated 

In other development, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue, Islamabad’s team has seized 300 packrites (3,000,000 sticks) of three local brands of illegal cigarettes valuing more than Rs. 20 million after intercepting a vehicle at Buharn Interchange of Motorway. On inquiry, it was also found that FED amounting to Rs4.95 million and Sales Tax amounting to Rs 1.678 million was not deposited in government exchequer against supplies of aforesaid cigarettes. The Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue, Islamabad has confiscated the cigarettes and mandatory legal proceedings are underway for recovery of due taxes.  In pursuit to the vision of Prime Minister to curb the menace of trade of counterfeit and illicit tobacco trade which is not only hazardous to the health of general public but also causing huge loss to the government exchequer, the Chairman FBR has urged Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-Inland Revenue to speed up the enforcement measures to combat the trade of counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes.