FBR officials and trader representatives will jointly visit markets across Pakistan to facilitate on-the-spot registration of shopkeepers under the Asaan Tax Scheme.
ISLAMABAD: The government and trade organisations have agreed to launch a joint market outreach drive to facilitate the registration of shopkeepers under the Asaan Tax Scheme across all four provinces.
Under the plan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials will visit markets alongside representatives of trader organisations to provide on-the-spot registration facilities and help shopkeepers join the scheme.
The decision was taken at a review meeting on implementation of the Asaan Tax Scheme, chaired by Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani.
The meeting was attended by prominent trade representatives, including Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry, as well as FBR Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal.
Senior FBR officials, chief commissioners and heads of the Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) in Islamabad and Rawalpindi also participated.
Heads and officials of RTOs and Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs) from across the country joined the meeting through video link and briefed participants on implementation progress in their respective jurisdictions.
FBR and traders to conduct joint market visits
The meeting reviewed the performance of RTOs and CTOs in implementing the Asaan Tax Scheme and assessed progress achieved so far.
Under the new strategy, local trader representatives and FBR field officers will jointly prepare schedules for visits to designated markets.
The teams will provide registration facilities directly in markets and assist shopkeepers with completing the registration process.
Trader representatives and FBR officials will coordinate arrangements and develop area-specific plans to ensure registration facilities are accessible to shopkeepers.
Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani said progress under the initiative would be closely monitored.
He also announced that another review meeting would be held next week under his chairmanship to assess implementation of the scheme.
First registration plate installed in Islamabad
The meeting also reviewed feedback received from traders regarding the Asaan Tax Scheme.
Addressing the participants, Kayani said the government, under the patronage of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had fulfilled its commitment to introduce the scheme in response to demands from the business community.
He highlighted the installation of the first official registration plate under the Asaan Tax Scheme in Islamabad as an important milestone in the implementation of the initiative.
The minister said registration plates would be installed at the shops of traders joining the scheme across the country from the following day.
Scheme aims to broaden tax base
Kayani said the initiative would help broaden the tax base while making tax compliance easier for traders.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuously monitor progress and address implementation issues to ensure the scheme achieves its intended objectives.
The joint outreach programme is expected to bring FBR officials and trader representatives directly into markets, giving shopkeepers greater access to registration facilities and information about the Asaan Tax Scheme.