Pakistan can no longer afford non-filers: Finance Minister

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has confirmed that the government is preparing to eliminate the category of non-filers, aiming to reduce the burden on those who actively file taxes.

“It’s time to remove the non-filers category,” he stated in an interview with Voice of America during his visit to New York, USA.

“Pakistan is probably the only country in the world with this concept. Either you are a filer, or you’re simply not paying taxes,” Aurangzeb explained. “The government is set to abolish this category.”

He further added, “The government cannot afford this anymore.”

This announcement follows remarks by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood, who said that the government had decided to do away with the non-filers category.

For the 2023 tax year, 6 million returns have already been filed, and the government expects more following strict measures introduced against non-filers.