- PM emphasizes the use of video analytics to improve revenue collection.
- Lead its rapid implementation in the cement and tobacco industries.
- Premier calls for rapid completion of digitization of FBR value chain.
LAHORE: As the federal government continues its efforts to widen the tax net and increase revenue generation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to take stern action against defaulters. The news reported on Sunday.
“Improving the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) through technology is the top priority of the government,” the prime minister said while chairing a crucial review meeting on strategies to improve revenue collection a day earlier.
Briefed by officials about the installation and monitoring of video analytics in the sugar industry, Chief Minister Shehbaz emphasized that the use of video analytics in the sugar industry would significantly improve revenue collection, eliminate hoarding and help in stabilizing prices.
“Our greatest effort is to ensure the availability of sugar at affordable prices to the public,” the Prime Minister stressed, while ordering regular monitoring of sugar stocks to maintain an uninterrupted supply chain.
During the meeting, which was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik and senior government officials, Prime Minister directed strict and indiscriminate measures against tax evasion and reporting by sugar mills.
Underlining that the ongoing measures for digitization of FBR would bring billions of rupees in benefits to the national exchequer, the Prime Minister ordered quick completion of digitization of the value chain of the tax authority and called for speedy implementation of analysis of video in the cement and tobacco industries.
The development comes days after the FBR launched its Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) System as part of its efforts to reform the tax sector.
The FCA, a key component of the FBR Transformation Plan approved by the Prime Minister, requires that import declarations of goods submitted after midnight on December 14 at the Karachi Valuation Collectors be assessed by the Central Valuation Unit ( CAU).
In addition, an incentive-based performance management mechanism has been introduced to improve the productivity and ensure accountability of Customs assessing officers posted in the CAU.
This mechanism would reward assessing officers who perform their duties with diligence and integrity.
In addition, the eligibility criteria and licensing regime for customs clearance agents have also been revamped and a scoring system is being introduced to hold them accountable for correct and quality declarations.
According to the scoring system, customs agents who provide true and honest statements of description, value and origin, etc., will get more points and their profile will improve.
In the opposite case of the license, officials who do not present improvements in the statements would lose points which could eventually lead to the cancellation of their license.
