ISLAMABAD
While lashing out at the current tax system in the country, former chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi termed the payment of agriculture income tax of parliamentarians as shameful, pathetic, and dangerous.
Shabbar Zaidi raised serious questions about the existing tax system and stated as to how there can be any corrections if the majority of the parliamentarians do not pay taxes other than on salaries they receive from the government.
The gravity of the situation could be judged from the fact that most of MNAs and senators of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI) did not pay any other tax except withheld on MNAs’ or senators’ salary.
Shabbar said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was second-largest taxpayer lawyer. He further stated that at present the rate is 15% on income so why can Pakistan prosper and sustain in this manner.
He said that agriculture income tax was a provincial subject, adding that except for around 35 cases, tax paid was not commensurate with lifestyle. He raised the question if it is acceptable.
The former FBR chairman said that that was the reason he tried to introduce Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) on consumption but failed.
Zaidi served as FBR chairman in the government of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan from May 10, 2019 to January 6, 2020. TLTP
