ISLAMABAD: Nearly 10,000 shopkeepers registered under the Asan Tax Scheme (ATS) during its first month, State Minister for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani said on Friday.
According to an official announcement, 9,806 shopkeepers joined the tax system within one month of the scheme’s launch.
The data was presented at a meeting chaired by Kayani to review progress on the implementation of the scheme. Traders’ representatives Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry also attended the meeting.
Nearly 2,000 Join Tax System for First Time
The meeting was informed that 1,929 registered shopkeepers were entering the tax system for the first time.
A total of 428 shopkeepers had already filed their tax returns.
The registered traders included shopkeepers from both smaller cities and major urban centres.
Kayani directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to immediately address technical concerns raised by shopkeepers and lawyers regarding the implementation of the scheme.
He also instructed the authorities to issue FBR plates to shopkeepers who had filed their tax returns at the earliest.
Minister Urges More Shopkeepers to Register
Kayani described the Asan Tax Scheme as a facility designed specifically for shopkeepers.
“The ATS is a unique facility designed specifically for shopkeepers and not available to any other business segment,” he said.
The state minister expressed hope that more shopkeepers would join the scheme in the coming months.
He said there was no reason for shopkeepers to remain non-filers after the introduction of the Asan Tax Scheme.
The government is continuing to monitor registrations and tax return filings as it seeks to bring more retailers into the formal tax system.
