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CBR informs CE

Levy of GST vital to achieving revenue target

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The top-brass of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) on Thursday informed Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf that tax collection target for this fiscal would not be achieved if General Sales Tax at retail was not imposed, reliable sources said.

The Chief Executive was given a detailed briefing at the CBR on revenue collection in 1999-2000, rightsizing and the implications of delay in the levy of GST at retail.

Javed Jabbar, Information Adviser to the Chief Executive, and the Secretary-General, Ministry of Finance, Moeen Afzal, also attended the briefing.

The tax managers, sources said, told the Chief Executive that the current target of Rs 356 billion collection for 1999-2000 was set keeping in view the levy of GST at retail within this fiscal.

However, the CBR officials further said that as this tax is yet to be imposed at retail stage this factor might cause around Rs 25 billion shortfall in the revenue receipts during this fiscal, said sources.

Pervez Musharraf was also given a presentation about rightsizing in the CBR. The CE was told that 1,000 posts of various grades in the CBR had already been abolished in the indirect taxes and a strategy is being evolved for the rightsizing of the direct taxes' wings.

The CBR also apprised the CE about corrupt officials and appointments on political grounds.

"It was a briefing session only and no decision was taken about GST and corrupt officials that was expected in this high-level meeting," an official of the CBR said.

APP adds: General Pervez Musharraf addressing on the occasion said broadening the tax base and reducing taxes should form the cornerstone of future taxation policy for the benefit of the common man in the long run.

Economic revival was the top priority of the government and the major step forward in this regard was good governance, he said.

He stressed upon the officers of the CBR to improve performance and the need to purge corrupt and incompetent persons.

The Chief Executive said that the economic survival of the country depends on honesty, dedication and devotion to duty and the best of strategies and policies cannot succeed if they were not properly implemented.

He said that the government would be forthcoming in providing all possible assistance to the CBR in its duty of tax/revenue collection.