After a week of discussions, telecom companies in Pakistan have agreed to start blocking SIM cards of people who haven’t filed their taxes. This decision comes after talks between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and telecom operators.
The government wants to crack down on tax evaders and make sure more people pay taxes. They’re following Income Tax General Order No. 1, which says they can block SIM cards of people who haven’t paid taxes. At first, telecom companies were worried about starting this process because they thought they weren’t ready. But now, they’re going to start blocking SIM cards in small groups, starting with 5,000 people.
Telecom companies will also let people know if their SIM cards are going to be blocked. The FBR found over 500,000 people who didn’t file their taxes for 2023, and their SIM cards will be blocked as a punishment. These steps show the government is serious about making people pay their taxes and collecting more money.
Blocking SIM cards is a way to make sure people follow tax rules and pay their fair share. The government hopes these actions will encourage more people to pay taxes and make the tax system fairer for everyone.
