ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his fierce opponent Imran Khan’s tax contributions significantly declined in tax year 2015 amid steady increase in overall income tax payments by parliamentarians.
The parliamentarians’ tax directory that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar unveiled on Saturday revealed that national lawmakers, including members of the federal cabinet, paid Rs310.8 million in taxes during tax year 2015 – up by Rs72 million or 30%. Imran admits owning offshore company to ‘avoid UK taxes’
However, Premier Nawaz paid Rs2.2 million in taxes, down by 15.45% over the previous year. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman, on the other hand, paid only Rs76,244 in income tax, which was 64% less than the previous year – he had paid Rs218,237 in tax year 2014.
The naming and shaming strategy of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) appears to be having an effect on at least parliamentarians. In 2013, when FBR published the first tax directory, parliamentarians had paid only Rs127 million in taxes. This amount increased by about two and a half times within three years.
Senator Taj Mohammad Afridi paid the highest tax of Rs41.7 million, while PTI’s Jahangir Tareen paid Rs37.6 million in taxes.
However, four federal ministers and one minister of state did not file their income tax returns for tax year 2015. FBR did not take any action against them, underpinning views that the machinery was not effectively working. Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, Ports and Shipping Minister Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf and Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali did not file their returns.
Cabinet ministers paid 20% more compared to last year with their total contribution standing at Rs16.8 million. The parliamentarians’ tax directory has yet again reinforced the view that Pakistani lawmakers are contributing very little to the national exchequer.
Overall, out of a total 1,169 members of the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies, as many as 120 legislators did not file their tax returns, said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while speaking at the launching ceremony of the directory.
In tax year 2014, about 401 national lawmakers had filed the income tax returns – a figure that has now further slipped to only 386 due to weakening writ of the federal government.
