Author: Mrs. Anjum Shahnawaz

  • NA hosts two-day Pak-Afghan trade, investment forum

    NA hosts two-day Pak-Afghan trade, investment forum

    ISLAMABAD: National Assembly of Pakistan to host two-day seminar on ‘Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Forum 2020’ that will commence on Monday October 26, 2020, a handout said.

    Realizing the significance of bilateral trade and economic linkages, regional growth and development, the National Assembly of Pakistan under the leadership of Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar has taken a bold initiative to host two-day Seminar on ‘’Pakistan-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Forum 2020’’.

    The Seminar, according to National Assembly handout, will commence on Monday, 26th October in Islamabad in which parliamentarians, trade communities of the two sides, government functionaries, line ministries will discuss and deliberate on ways and means to open up new vistas of cooperation and boosting bilateral trade between Islamabad and Kabul.

    USAID, Pakistan has also extended support to National Assembly Secretariat in organizing Seminar under its regional connectivity and integration initiative.

    Inter-Parliamentary parleys, during the seminar, will explore the possibilities of regional connectivity and to provide for mechanisms to enhance bilateral trade and strategies to resolve all outstanding issues to create a win-win situation.

    Thematic sessions of the seminar will focus on reducing cost of Pakistan-Afghanistan transit trade, trade and investment opportunities in manufacturing sector, trade and investment opportunities in agriculture, food, live stock and minerals and trade and investment opportunities in services.

    The Prime Minister of Pakistan will address the opening ceremony of the Conference on October 26, as Chief Guest.

    Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar, Advisor for Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also address the gathering besides addresses of Speaker Afghan Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rehmani and Commerce Minister of Afghanistan Nisar Ghoriyani. Seminar is unique and historic keeping in view the government’s vibrant policies aimed at promoting regional connectivity and creating an environment of shared development and prosperity.

    Owing to the huge significance, the seminar has attracted huge interest from representatives from Afghanistan trade and investment community, intelligentsia, academia, investors and traders and other people from different walks of lives to participate. The trade and investment moot is the culmination of activities of Executive Committee of Pakistan Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship.

    The Executive Committee of Pakistan-Afghanistan PFG in its endeavors under the leadership of Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser achieved milestones in the form of eradicating tariff and non-tariff issues, especially lubricating the transit trade between both countries, officially made it possible to get formal approval of Afghanistan visa liberalization visa policy from the Cabinet, facilitated traders on both sides of the borders, and it brought two brotherly nations closer.

    On invitation of the Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser a 17-member Afghan Parliamentary Delegation led by Speaker of the Wolsey Jirga (Afghan Parliament) Mir Rahman Rahmani is in Islamabad these days to participate in the Seminar.

    The Seminar would further open new avenues of Parliamentary cooperation, people to people contacts and realizing the dream of peaceful and prosperous region.

  • Income tax rates on prize winnings

    Income tax rates on prize winnings

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated rate of income tax on winning of prize bonds and lottery during tax year 2021 (July 01, 2020 to June 30, 2021).

    The FBR issued Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (updated up to June 30, 2020) after incorporating amendments brought through Finance Act, 2020.

    The FBR updated following rate of income tax on prize winnings under Section 156 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:

    (1) The rate of tax to be deducted under section 156 on a prize on prize bond or cross-word puzzle shall be 15 percent of the gross amount paid.

    (2) The rate of tax to be deducted under section 156 on winnings from a raffle, lottery, prize on winning a quiz, prize offered by a company for promotion of sale, shall be 20 percent of the gross amount paid.

    The income tax rate applicable under Section 156 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which is as follow:

    Section 156: Prizes and winnings.—(1) Every person paying prize on a prize bond, or winnings from a raffle, lottery, prize on winning a quiz, prize offered by companies for promotion of sale, or cross-word puzzle shall deduct tax from the gross amount paid at the rate specified in Division VI of Part III of the First Schedule.

    (2) Where a prize, referred to in sub-section (1), is not in cash, the person while giving the prize shall collect tax on the fair market value of the prize.

    (3) The tax deductible under sub-section (1) or collected under sub-section (2) shall be final tax on the income from prizes or winnings referred to in the said sub-sections.

  • Rate of income tax on export proceeds

    Rate of income tax on export proceeds

    Islamabad, February 7, 2025 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated the income tax rates applicable to export proceeds for the tax year 2021, covering the period from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

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  • Customs launches investigation into clearance of automotive spare parts at lower values

    Customs launches investigation into clearance of automotive spare parts at lower values

    KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has launched investigation against officers for allowing clearance of automotive spare parts at lower values.

    Model Customs Collectorate of Appraisement & Facilitation (West) constituted a committee to ascertain the role of examining and assessment officers in clearance and assessment of spark plug, bearings and parts thereof at lower values without taking into consideration constituent material in case of spark plugs and without proper application of valuation ruling in case of ball bearing and parts thereof.

    The committee is comprised of officers including Zubair Shah, Additional Collector (Headquarters), Ms. Arma Hassan, Deputy Director and Ms. Quratulain Ramay, Assistant Collector.

    The committee has been direct to finalize its report by first week of November 2020 and give recommendations including names of the delinquent officers to proceed further in the matter.

    Sources in Pakistan Customs said that large scale under invoicing and mis declaration had been detected on the clearance of imported automotive spare parts.

    They said that customs collectorates had issued guidelines to examination and assessment staff to ensure true and correct value to be applied while allowing clearance of spare parts, including ball bearing and spark plugs.

    On the other hand Pakistan Automobile Spare Parts Importers & Dealers Association (PASPIDA) issued a statement on Saturday criticizing customs authorities for harassing importers.

    Muhammad Shaheen, Acting Secretary, PASPIDA, while referring to several complaints received from PASPIDA members, said that Customs Authorities at Karachi Port have unusually held bearing consignments and were unnecessarily lingering customs procedures which were resulting in causing heavy demurrages, detention, wharfage and other losses to customers’ account.

    In a statement issued, PASPIDA Secretary said that the Customs Authorities are taking undue time in all steps of clearance; examination, appraisement and adjudication (if applicable). “We have received many complaints of unfair examination reports, which are made to pressurize importers and put their matters in contravention. The attitude of custom authorities towards our importers is disrespectful and all sorts of tactics to harass importers are being used,” he added.

    Muhammad Shaheen stated that Customs Authorities were also harassing Bearing Importers whose goods are not at the port but have been cleared in the past. “We have also received complaints of phone calls to importers with threat of criminal proceeding if they do not show up at custom house and submit the recovery amount.”

    He urged the Customs Authorities to stop this blackmailing and even if there was an issue in the clearances done in past, they should issue show cause to importers instead of threatening them by making phone calls, and also investigate internally their own examiners and appraisers who cleared the goods.

    “This unnecessary hold and harassment must stop. It has already caused losses and has become a major reason for mental torture to importers and it will only cause more trouble, if prolonged further.” Secretary PASPIDA opined that this was all being done by some powerful people involved in bearing trade in order to sabotage the entire bearings business in Pakistan, wipe out competition and pave way for smuggling.

    He requested Chairman FBR & Chief Collector to take this matter seriously by acting strictly against concerned ACs/DCs/Appraisers and all those involved in harassing Bearing Importers and delaying bearings’ Customs Clearance.

  • Rate of tax on payments for goods, services

    Rate of tax on payments for goods, services

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated rate of income tax on payments for goods or services during tax year 2021 (July 01, 2020 to June 30, 2021).

    The FBR issued income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (updated up to June 30, 2020) after incorporating amendments brought through Finance Act, 2020.

    The FBR updated rate of tax on payments for goods or services under Section 153 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 in following manner:

    (1) The rate of tax to be deducted from a payment referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 153 shall be –

    (a) in the case of the sale of rice, cotton seed or edible oils, 1.5 percent of the gross amount payable; or

    Explanation.— For removal of doubt, it is clarified that “cotton seed and edible oils” means cotton seed oil and edible oils;

    (ab) in the case of supplies made by the distributer of fast moving consumer goods,─

    (i) in case of a company, 2 percent of the gross amount payable; and

    (ii) in any other case, 2.5 percent of the gross amount payable.

    (b) in the case of sale of goods including toll manufacturing,—

    (i) in case of a company, 4 percent of the gross amount payable, and

    (ii) in any other case, 4.5 percent of the gross amount payable,

    (2) The rate of tax to be deducted from a payment referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 153 shall be —

    (i) 3 percent of the gross amount payable, in the cases of transport services, freight forwarding services, air cargo services, courier services, manpower outsourcing services, hotel services, security guard services, software development services, IT services and IT enabled services as defined in clause (133) of Part I of the Second Schedule, tracking services, advertising services (other than by print or electronic media), share registrar services, engineering services, warehousing services, services rendered by asset management companies, data services provided under license issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, telecommunication infrastructure (tower) services, car rental services, building maintenance services, services rendered by Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited and Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited inspection, certification, testing and training services;

    (ii) in case of rendering of or providing of services other than sub-clause (i),-

    (a) in case of a company, 8 percent of the gross amount payable;

    (b) in any other case, 10 percent of the gross amount payable; and

    (c) in respect of persons making payments to electronic and print media for advertising services, 1.5 percent of the gross amount payable.

    (3) The rate of tax to be deducted from a payment referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 153 shall be –

    (i) 10 percent of the gross amount payable in case of sportspersons;

    (ii) in case of a company, 7 percent of the gross amount payable; and

    (iii) in any other case, 7.5 percent of the gross amount payable.

  • Penalty for not filing return of income

    Penalty for not filing return of income

    ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised the rates of fines and penalties for individuals who fail to file their annual income returns despite having taxable income or being required to file under the law.

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  • Weekly Review: bullish sentiments likely on strong profitability

    Weekly Review: bullish sentiments likely on strong profitability

    KARACHI: The stock market is expected to maintain a bullish trend in the coming week, driven by strong corporate profitability, according to analysts at Arif Habib Limited. They anticipate that the positive momentum seen in the stock market will continue, as political uncertainty diminishes and confidence in the economy strengthens.

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  • Tax rates on payments to non-residents on services, contract execution

    Tax rates on payments to non-residents on services, contract execution

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated tax rates on payments to non-residents as fee for technical services or execution of contracts during tax year 2021 (July 01, 2020 to June 30, 2021).

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  • TAX YEAR 2021: tax rate on Sukuks

    TAX YEAR 2021: tax rate on Sukuks

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated tax rate on return on investment in Sukuks for the tax year (July 01, 2020 to June 30, 2021).

    The FBR issued Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (updated till June 30, 2020) after incorporating amendments brought through Finance Act, 2020. The FBR updated the rate of tax on return on investment in Sukuks.

    Section 150A of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 deals with return on investment in Sukuks as:

    150A. Return on investment in Sukuks—Every special purpose vehicle, or a company, at the time of making payment of a return on investment in sukuks to a sukuk holder shall deduct tax from the gross amount of return on investment at the rate specified in Division IB of Part III of the First Schedule.

    The rate of tax to be deducted under section 150A shall be—

    (a) 25 percent in case the sukuk-holder is a company;

    (b) 12.5 percent in case the sukuk-holder is an individual or an association of person, if the return on investment is more than one million;

    (c) 10 percent in case the sukuk-holder is an individual and an association of person, if the return on investment is less than one million.

  • FBR notifies transfer, postings of senior auditors

    FBR notifies transfer, postings of senior auditors

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has notified transfers and posting of senior auditors of the sales tax department with immediate effect and until further orders.

    Following senior auditors (BS-16) have been transferred:

    01. Muhammad Altaf (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    02. Shoukat Ali Bhatti (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    03. Bilal Afzal (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    04. Habib Khan (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    05. Umar Farooq (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    06. Syed Azam Raza (IRS Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    07. Muhammad Laique Qureshi (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    08. Akbar Nawaz Khattak (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    09. Tahir Amir (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    10. Kamran Feroz (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    11. Attiq Ahmad Abbasi (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    12. Muhammad Ilyas (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    13. Muhammad Shabbir (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    14. Saeed Tahir (IT Cadre Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as MIS Officer, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of MIS Officer, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    15. Gul Khan (IT Cadre Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as MIS Officer, Corporate Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of MIS Officer, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    16. Mahr Muhammad Aurangzeb (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Large Taxpayers Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    17. Muhammad Kamran (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Large Taxpayers Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

    18. Zeeshan Zafar (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Large Taxpayers Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    19. Ch. Muhammad Sajid (Sales Tax Department/BS-16) has been transferred and posted as Senior Auditor, Large Taxpayers Office, Islamabad from the post of Senior Auditor, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

    The FBR said that the officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.