Govt mulling to bring FATA into tax net on IMF demand

PESHAWAR The IMF conditions for its much-trumpeted loan to Pakistan have started coming to fore with the government mulling to bring Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into tax net as per IMF demand. According to sources the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in its report sent to Ministry of SAFRON, Prime Minister and Presidential secretariat, has asked the government to bring FATA areas into tax net. According to SAFRON sources, the decision is taken in the wake of IMF pressure to impose taxes in the tribal areas besides, the steps have been suggested in the wake of final approval for amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulation (40-FCR) law and a plan to merge FATA and PATA areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is pertinent to mention here that summary for final approval of amendments in 22 articles of FCR law has been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari, however, different departments including FBR want regulation for bringing FATA into tax net before approving amendments in FCR. These departments have demanded for immediate formulations of laws for imposing tax in the wake of possible merger of FATA/PATA with KP. For the purpose the departments concerned have started contacting Members Parliament and once the suggestion approved tax would be imposed on all industrial units in tribal areas. However, Governor Secretariat has also been asked to send its suggestion in this regard after which decision would be taken.

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