M RAFIQUE GORAYA

LAHORE: Punjab Revenue Authority celebrated 10th April as “Tax Day” to highlight the importance of taxation in the overall macroeconomic framework and to introduce the taxpayers as stakeholder in good governance. It was stressed that payment of taxes is a prime responsibility of every individual in the country and the Government is responsible for right use of taxpayer’s money.

Addressing a function, Chairman PRA Dr Raheel Ahmed said that PRA is trying to inculcate a new culture of tax compliance in the country by introducing new and novel ways of tax surveys in order to broaden its tax base. He stated that in 2012 the total number of registered tax payers were 2500 whereas as of today PRA has over 47000 registered tax payers. It has introduced new systems like Notice Management System, Pre-populated returns and Invoice Monitoring System for Hotels & Courier services. The Chairman thanked the international donors GIZ, DFID and World Bank for their cooperation and assistance in this regard.

In her address, Minister Finance Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha said that taxation was the gateway to development and the government had precisely marked April 10 as tax day to not just highlight the significance of taxation but to spread due importance and benefits of paying taxes. She stressed that it is not only the responsibility of the tax collector to gain the trust of the taxpayer by being accountable and introducing transparent taxation system but also the responsibility of the general public to pay taxes to reap its benefits in the form of health, education, infrastructure, etc. She said both the tax collectors and tax payers are partners in the country’s development and this partnership should flourish for mutual benefits.

Minister for Excise and Taxation, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said that it is our moral duty as the citizen of the Pakistan to pay taxes on time and relish the returns provided by the government in the form of infrastructural and welfare projects. He said that in Punjab every tax payer’s money is being well spent on infrastructural and developmental projects. PRA has been helping the Punjab Government by collecting taxes efficiently, he added.

Shield were awarded to the best taxpayers of the province while prizes including Toyota Corolla, Honda City, Motor Bike and Umrah Tickets were distributed among winners of 19th, 20th & 21st Tax Amanat Scheme (RIMS) for Lahore based restaurants.