ISLAMABAD

Top economic managers of the country on Tuesday discussed various revenue measures that would be announced in next few days on the direction of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Tuesday had a meeting with the newly appointed Chairman FBR, Nisar Mohammad and other senior officials of FBR to discuss future roadmap for increase of revenue collection. He also had exchange of views with them on the strategy to meet the targets set for the fiscal year 2015-16.
At the outset the meeting expressed satisfaction on revenue collection during the first two months of the second quarter. The Minister said that this spirit should be kept up for the remainder of the fiscal year also.
The Minister said that with dedication and concerted efforts, the FBR had achieved 33pc revenue growth in the last two years and the number of tax payers had risen from 700,000 to one million which was highly creditable. But he added, the new team in FBR now needed to consolidate on these gains. Most important he said was to focus on further enhancing the tax base through administrative measures as well as moral suasion. Role of businessmen was critical in not only contributing to the national exchequer but also encouraging others to follow suit.
The Chairman FBR briefly shared the detail of various revenue measures and assured the Minister that his team would put in its best to realize the targets for the current fiscal year. He said that the FBR was taking due cognizance of the recommendations put forth by the Tax Reforms Commission to enhance revenue and improve tax payers facilitation. Overall betterment in the tax system was also envisaged and steps were being taken to this effect.
The Minister asked the Chairman FBR to keep him updated on all revenue measures in future.