Dead Pakistanis Are Still Submitting Tax Returns to FBR

Mobile Phone SIM cards registered in the names of deceased individuals continue to function across Pakistan while income tax returns are also submitted in their names as families don’t submit their death certificates. This was disclosed by officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) during a Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday. The committee was also informed by Chairman FBR Rashid Langrial that a report has been requested from the Director General of Excise Punjab on why permission wasn’t being given for exporting alcohol from Pakistan following complaints from industry representatives. FBR officials said in some cases, children/relatives of the deceased choose to keep their deceased parents’ SIM cards active as a token. They said timely submission of death certificates would allow for the proper deactivation of these SIMs. Chairman FBR informed the committee that the regulator has prepared a draft ordinance to tighten enforcement measures in this regard, which could be introduced at any moment. He also ruled out offering discounts on banks’ advance deposit ratios to stop banks from lending to the government for profit instead of supporting the private sector. He disclosed that banks often extend funds on December 30, only to withdraw them by January 10. On other matters, FBR confirmed that the track and trace system for the sugar sector will be fully operational by November 15. FBR chairman noted irregularities in production and tax payments in the tobacco sector, with 42 percent of cigarettes in Pakistan being smuggled or illegally produced particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.