11,252 more SIMs of non-filers blocked on FBR’s instructions

The government has further tightened the noose around the non-filers as so far 11,252 SIMs of such persons have been blocked, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Bakhtiar Muhammad, the spokesman for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), said on Thursday that of over 500,000 tax defaulters identified across the country, the Board had forwarded to telecom companies the data of 30,000 such persons.

“The FBR has now decided to share this date with the telecom companies on a daily basis,” he said, adding that the Board was committing to promote the culture of tax compliance.

It was reported yesterday that over 9,000 SIM cards, belonging to individuals who had not filed their tax returns, had been blocked across the country.

A spokesperson for the FBR said on Wednesday that the measure was part of an effort to combat tax evasion and boost revenue collection.

The decision to block the SIM cards was communicated to telecommunication companies during a meeting held on Tuesday.

 “The decision has been made by parliament, therefore, the government’s decision should be implemented in any case,” he added.

There were also reports that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had refused to block the SIMs of tax evaders, saying it did not have the authority.

“Earlier on Tuesday, two telecom firms had blocked 3,500 more SIMs,” the FBR spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), currently hearing a case related to the government’s orders to block SIM cards of non-filers, has clarified that the government’s decision remains effective, as its injunction does not pertain to the blocking of non-filers’ SIM cards.

Reporter: Waqas Azeem