Reforms in FBR govt’s top priority for economic revival: Azam Nazir Tarar

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar said that as per the vision of the Prime Minister, it was the top priority of the incumbent government to introduce reforms in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to address economic crisis.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, he said that the prime minister is leading the entire reform process in this regard. "The IMF has asked Pakistan to improve governance of departments, end unnecessary expenditures besides stopping the power and tax theft," he added.

He said that there is an uproar over the transfers in the FBR. "It is not against anyone, but the appointments are as per need of the officers and it is government's prerogative," he added.

The minister highlighted that currently, tax cases pertaining to the recovery of more than Rs2,700 billion were pending in courts, which should be concluded early. The parliament, he said, for the first time has legislated on tax tribunals in order to not only expedite the process but also make it efficient. Under the law, cases of Rs 20 million will go to the commissioner while the cases above this will go to the Tribunal, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that highly successful second visit of Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia within a month to participate in World Economic Forum, was historic and major development, which would eventually bring about extensive positive results within next few months.

He said comprehensive planning by Saudi Arabia for investment in Pakistan was a turning point in the bilateral relations.

The minister said that it was the new robust initiative in Pakistan-Saudi relations, and the specific results of the Prime Minister’s historic visit have started to come to fore. "In follow-up to the PM’s Saudi visit, a delegation of Saudi businessmen is also coming to Pakistan in the next few days. This is the outcome of successful foreign policy of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif," he said, adding that the exchange of delegations will continue between the two brotherly countries.