Sources revealed on Saturday that the federal government is preparing to introduce new taxation measures aimed at broadening Pakistan’s tax base and boosting overall revenue collection.
According to initial reports, authorities are considering a proposal to increase the tax rate on cash withdrawals by non-filers from 0.8 percent to 1.5 percent. If approved, the revised rate will apply to all bank withdrawals, including ATM transactions, made by individuals who are not registered taxpayers.
Officials estimate that the implementation of the measure could generate an additional annual revenue of about Rs30 billion. However, economists have warned that the move could increase the financial pressure on millions of non-filers, as they will have to pay almost double the current tax on every cash withdrawal.
The sources added that the proposal is part of the government’s broader strategy to bridge the current revenue shortfall, as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is consistently lagging behind its collection targets.
During the first half of the current fiscal year, the FBR collected Rs 2,885 billion against the target of Rs 3,083 billion, highlighting a shortfall of about Rs 200 billion. Officials believe that the proposed tax adjustment will help bridge the gap and encourage more people to become active taxpayers.
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