Blogs

Zafar Iqbal Khan, Chief Commissioner of Inland Revenue at the Regional Tax Office (RTO) in Peshawar, has encouraged taxpayers to deposit their outstanding taxes in a timely manner in order to contribute toward the national ex-chequer.During the monthly online ‘open court’ held in the Regional Tax Office, he was speaking. During the proceeding, the Chief Commissioner was assisted by Commissioner Peshawar Zone Mohammad Ayaz, Commissioner Corporate Zone Shaukat Hayat, Additional Commissioner Headquarters Bahadar Shah Afridi, Assistant Commissioner/Focal Person Faheem Rashid, and Chief Commissioner Withholding Zone Tariq Jamal Khattak. The resolution of taxpayers’ problems at their doorsteps is the aim behind holding the online court, said the Chief Commissioner. In his opinion, the online court is the best platform for connecting tax collectors with taxpayers. He encouraged taxpayers to step forward and inform him directly about their problems and difficulties. The open court proceeding was of keen interest to the taxpayers who asked various questions about the collection of different taxes. The participants were satisfied with the answers provided by the Chief Commissioner and his team.

Ishaq Dar, the Finance Minister, has met with a delegation from JPMorgan in Dubai. On Friday, Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with a delegation of representatives from world-renowned investment companies led by Imran Zaidi of JP Morgan Dubai. A press release stated that the meeting was attended by Tariq Bajwa, who is the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance, Tariq Pasha, who is the SAPM on Revenue, the Secretary Finance, and senior officers from the Finance Division. A comprehensive discussion was held between the two sides regarding Pakistan’s economic situation, the International Monetary Fund program, market perception and outlook, as well as external account situations. Despite the challenging economic situation, the government is steering the economy towards stability and growth, as shared by the finance minister regarding the country’s economic outlook. It was high time to invest in Pakistan as the country was slowly but surely moving toward economic stability, he said. As finance minister, Ishaq Dar successfully completed the IMF program in the past and the present government is committed to fulfilling all international obligations by completing the current program.

According to documents cited by the Wall Street Journal, Google is aiming to enhance its search engine to be more visually appealing, easily digestible, personalized, and human-centered, with a particular emphasis on catering to the younger generation worldwide. Artificial intelligence (AI) applications like ChatGPT are gaining popularity rapidly, showcasing a technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way businesses and society function. According to the report, the tech giant intends to move its service beyond the traditional format of presenting search results, known as “10 blue links,” and will include more human voices as part of this transition. During its upcoming annual I/O developer conference, Google is anticipated to introduce new capabilities that enable users to engage in conversations with an AI program, a venture known as “Magi,” as per sources familiar with the subject, cited by WSJ. This year, Generative AI has become a buzzword, sparking a rush among companies to launch similar products that they believe will change the nature of work and capturing the public’s fancy. Reuters’ request for comment was not immediately responded to by Google, which is part of Alphabet Inc.

Subject to clearance from the Austerity Measures Committee (AMC), the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs 35 million to establish 30 Passport Processing Counters (PPCs), mainly in Punjab. Ministry of Interior informed the ECC, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, on April 28, 2023, that the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports oversees and coordinates the operations of 182 Regional Passport Offices throughout Pakistan and abroad. DG provided continuous services to individuals in need of passport and immigration assistance. On March 1, 2023, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting where he formed a Committee, led by the Minister for Finance and Revenue, to discuss the collaboration between NADRA and Directorate General of Immigration and Passports for the establishment of new passport offices in remote areas. The Committee recommended to the Prime Minister the following: (i) amending Passport Rules, 2021 to include smart solutions such as Passport Processing Counters, passport processing through MRVs, and online passport processing; and (ii) approving addendums No. To start smart solutions, V, VI, and VII were approved, along with the establishment of Passport Processing Counters in 30 administrative units and the provision of Rs. 35 million in funds through a supplementary grant in the current financial year 2022-23. The Ministry of Interior has announced that a total of Rs35 million will be distributed through the Technical Supplementary Grant during the CFY 2022-23 for the establishment of Passport Processing Counters in 30 administrative units across the country. These units include Malir and Sambrial. Shringal, Depalpur. The following cities are Kamoke, Umar Kot, Daska, Tandlianwala, Jampur, Pasrur, Samundri, Lower Kohistan (at Pattan), Burewala, Safdarabad, Pattoki, Chunian, Khanpur, Kabirwala, Sangla Hill, Muzaffarabad (at Khangarh), Mailsi, Sharaqpur, Khawazakhela, Nowshera Virkan, Faisalabad, Sher Garh, Malikwal, Pindigheb, Chak Dare, and Ferozewal (at Faizpur Khurd). The Ministry of Interior has asked for ECC approval to establish 30 positions for Machine Readable Passport (MRP) Operational Officers at the DG IMPASS office, along with an extra budget of Rs. 35 million for the fiscal year 2022-23. The proposal of the Ministry of Interior for the Current Financial Year 2022-23 was approved by the ECC, subject to clearance by the Austerity Measures Committee, after deliberations.

Sources have stated that over 100 officers from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have submitted leave intimations in protest of salary inequality with their counterparts from other services in the same batch in Lahore. FBR officers are participating in a mass movement, and intimations of leave have been submitted from all field formations across the country. The officers who submitted leave intimations stated that significant issues have arisen due to the low salary, lack of basic perquisites, denial of executive allowance at 150% of the basic salary, and the delay in rewards and promotions, as well as the unfulfilled promise of implementing the Common Pool Fund (CPF) and de-freezing Internal Job Posting (IJP). The tax officers from Islamabad, Karachi, and Islamabad field formations have reportedly submitted their taxes from May 8th to June 30th, 2023, according to a few intimations. The ongoing issue of extremely low salary against the skyrocketing inflation in the country over the past few months has been described as the reason for the request. The officers have stated that their current salary is insufficient to meet their basic needs, leading to financial stress and mental health issues as they struggle to make ends meet.