KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday said that the restriction imposed on non-filers related to foreign currency accounts shall not apply on non-resident Pakistanis.
The SBP issued a circular inviting attention of banks to the proviso of sub-section (4) of the Section (5) of the Protection of Economic Reforms Act (PERA), 1992 which, says:
“provided that no cash shall be deposited in an account of a citizen of Pakistan resident in Pakistan, unless the account holder is a filer as defined in the income Tax Ordinance, 2001.”
The SBP noticed that some banks were not allowing non-residents to open and maintain foreign currency accounts on the pretext that they are not appearing as ‘filer’ in the Active Taxpayer’s List of FBR.
“However, it is evident from the aforementioned Proviso that the instructions, contained therein, are not applicable to non-residents,” the SBP said.
Following is the text of updated the PERA, 1992.
PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC REFORMS ACT, 1992
ACT NO. XII OF 1992
An Act to provide for furtherance and protection of economic reforms
WHEREAS it is necessary to create a liberal environment for savings and investments; and other matters relating thereto;
AND WHEREAS a number of economic reforms have been introduced and are in the process of being introduced to achieve the aforesaid objectives;
AND WEHERAS it is necessary to provide legal protection to these reforms in order to create confidence in the establishment and continuity of the liberal economic environment created thereby;
It is hereby enacted as follow:––
1. Short title, extent and commencement.––(1) This Act, may be called the Protection of Economic Reforms Act, 1992.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Definitions.–– In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context.––
(a) “Government” includes both the Federal Government and any Provincial Government;
(b) “economic reforms” means economic policies and programmes, laws and regulations announced, promulgated or implemented by the Government on and after the seventh day of November, 1990, relating to privatization of public sector enterprises, and nationalized banks, promotion of savings and investments, introduction of, fiscal incentives for industrialization and deregulation of investment, banking, finance, exchange and payments systems, holding and transfer of currencies; and
(c) all other expressions used in this Ordinance shall have the meaning, respectively assigned to them under the relevant laws.
3. Act to override other laws.–– This Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Foreign Currency Accounts (Protection) Ordinance, 2001 (L of 2001).
4. Freedom to bring, hold, sell and take out foreign currency.––
(1) All citizens of Pakistan resident in Pakistan or outside Pakistan and all other persons shall be entitled and free to bring, hold, sell, transfer and take out foreign exchange within or out of Pakistan in any form.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to.––
(a) any foreign exchange borrowed under any general permission given by the State Bank of Pakistan under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act, 1947 (VII of 1947);
(b) any payment from abroad for goods exported from Pakistan;
(c) proceeds of securities issued or sold to non-residents;
(d) any payment received from abroad for services rendered in, or from Pakistan;
(e) earnings or profits of the overseas offices or branches of Pakistani firms and companies including banks; and
(f) any foreign exchange purchased from an authorized dealer, money changer or exchange company in Pakistan for any purpose.
(g) cross border or inland movement of foreign currencies in cash exceeding US$ 10,000 or equivalent subject to such annual ceiling as may be prescribed by the State Bank of Pakistan.
5. Immunities to foreign currency accounts.––(1) All citizens of Pakistan resident in Pakistan or outside Pakistan who hold foreign currency accounts in Pakistan, and all other persons who hold such accounts, shall continue to enjoy immunity against any inquiry from the Income Tax Department or any other taxation authority as to the source of financing of the foreign currency accounts:
Provided that such immunity shall not be available to citizens of Pakistan residing in Pakistan and to firms, companies and other bodies registered or incorporated in Pakistan in respect of any new foreign currency account opened or deposits created on or after the 16th day of December, 1999 or to any incremental deposits thereafter in an existing foreign currency account.
(2) The balances in the foreign currency accounts and income therefrom shall continue to remain exempted from the levy of wealth tax and income tax and compulsory deduction of Zakat at source:
Provided that such exemption shall not be available to citizens of Pakistan residing in Pakistan and to firms, companies and other bodies registered or incorporated in Pakistan in respect of any balance in a new foreign currency account opened or deposits created on or after the 16th day of December, 1999 or to incremental deposits created on or after the 16th day of December, 1999 in an existing foreign currency account and income therefrom.
(3) The banks shall maintain complete secrecy in respect of transactions in the foreign currency accounts [except as otherwise required under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (VII of 1947) or the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (XLIX of 2001).
(4) The State Bank of Pakistan or other banks shall not impose any restrictions on deposits in and withdrawals from the foreign currency accounts and restrictions if any shall stand withdrawn forthwith:
Provided that no cash shall be deposited in an account of a citizen of Pakistan, resident in Pakistan, unless the account holder is a filer as defined in the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (XLIX of 2001):
Provided further that the Federal Government may make rules governing deposits in and withdrawals from the foreign currency accounts.
6. Protection of fiscal incentives for setting up of industries.–– The fiscal incentives for investment provided by the Government through the statutory orders listed in the Schedule or otherwise notified shall continue in force for the term specified therein and shall not be altered to the disadvantage of the investor.
7. Protection of transfer of ownership to private sector.––The ownership, management and control of any banking, commercial, manufacturing or other company, establishment or enterprise transferred by the Government to any person under any law shall not again be compulsorily acquired or taken over by the Government for any reason whatsoever.
8. Protection of foreign and Pakistani investment.––No foreign, industrial or commercial enterprise established or owned in any form by a foreign or Pakistani investor for private gain in accordance with law, and no investment in share or equity of any company, firm, or enterprise, and no commercial bank or financial institution established, owned or acquired by any foreign or Pakistani investor, shall be compulsorily acquired or taken over by the Government.
9. Secrecy of Banking transaction.–– Secrecy of bonafide banking transactions shall be strictly observed by all banks and financial institutions, by whosoever owned, controlled or managed.
10. Protection of financial obligation.––All financial obligations incurred, including those under any instrument, or any financial and contractual commitment made by or on behalf of the Government shall continue to remain in force, and shall not be altered to the disadvantage of the beneficiaries.
11. Rules.––The Federal Government may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
