KARACHI: Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has commended the efforts of the Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan office in attempting to eradicate corruption and harassment by the tax collection machinery, a statement said.
The FTO has rightfully identified the practices in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) responsible for issuing fake, forged, illegitimate and fictitious notices to the business community and their banks to unlawfully take access to their bank details, transactions and balances, he added.
Maggo said that this FBR practice is an unlawful and questionable use of the Section 176 of the Income tax Ordinance 2001; and, he considers it an exercise and conspiracy against the economic growth and development of Pakistan.
The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are more vulnerable and prone to this kind of abuse by the authorities; as they cannot hire expensive lawyers and spend their time to challenge the unfair notices at the relevant legal fora.
The FPCCI president said he is pleasantly surprised on the accountability being carried out by the honourable FTO without any fear, interference and vested interests, for which the investigation be done and exemplary punishments be given by the FTO to the tax officials found responsible on account of issuing fake and unauthorised notices to access bank accounts; instead of recommending the FBR to probe the misuse of authorities by its own tax officials; as the internal inquiries by the FBR in most of the cases remain dormant and inconclusive.
Resultantly, the corrupt and compromised officials in the tax collection machinery joined hands against even the inspections ordered by the FTO by filing unauthorised petitions against the FTO office.
The FPCCI president expressed shock on the government for authorising the tax officials to challenge the constitutional office of the FTO in ordering inspections per law.
Maggo demands Prime Minister Imran Khan to take cognizance of such unauthorised acts of the tax officials by filing petitions in PHC; which has dismissed the petition before the high court; against rightfully given inspection orders by the FTO to the taxation officials.
The FTO office is constitutionally protected; and, the business, industry and trade community of Pakistan will stand united against any illegitimate pressure and hurdles being put forward in the discharge of the constitutional duties by the FTO, he said.
The FPCCI chief applauded the assertions by the FTO that the revenue board needs to devise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for invoking the Section 176; else, it will continue to indulge in maladministration at the expense of the business community.
Maggo reiterated that the misuse of powers by the FBR must end and the responsible practices should prevail. The FPCCI is ever-willing and ready to help resolve all the taxation issues through dialogue, consultation and bridging ever-protruding gaps with the policymakers, he added.
