Update tax lists

It is surprising that, on the one hand, the government is trying to bring as many people into the tax net as possible, while on the other hand the FBR has not updated the tax filers’ list.

The names of people who have already filed tax returns for September-October 2015 have not been included in the list so far, with the result that their names are not appearing in the Active Taxpayers List, and therefore banks are deducting withholding tax on their transactions. Why has the list not been updated so far? Who is obstructing it? Is this being done to stop people from registering with tax authorities? Can Finance Minister Ishaq Dar explain the reason for this delay?

Humayun Iqbal Shami

Islamabad