Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Imran Khan has on Tuesday stressed for introducing track and trace system to avoid massive tax evasion in major sectors such as sugar, cement, fertilizers and tobacco industry.
Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad on Tuesday, the premier pointed out that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had been striving to bring this system over the last 15 years but every time their efforts were sabotaged.
“Only two companies are paying taxes in the cigarette industry whilst forty percent cigarettes are being sold in black,” PM Imran noted.
He said the FBR had assured to roll out the track and trace system by July this year but now the Sindh High Court (SHC) has given a stay on it.
PM Imran directed the Law Minister to apprise the high court of the actual situation to get the stay vacated as the tax evasion cannot be checked without automation, the Radio Pakistan reported.
“Due to tax evasion, we have to rely on indirect taxes which leads to price hike,” the premier noted.
On electoral reforms, Prime Minister Imran Khan said electronic voting machines (EVM) have become inevitable to ensure transparency in the elections.
He said the cabinet should regularly be updated about the progress made towards this end as well as giving the right of franchise to overseas Pakistanis.
