ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar constituted an independent eleven-member Reforms and Recourse Mobilisation Commission (RRMC) for resource mobilisation and for giving recommendations to Finance Minister on budget and tax-related issues and policies. According to notification issued by Federal Board of Revenue commission would be headed by full-time chairman, who would be directly reporting to Minister.

Commission would interact with stakeholders and form sub-groups and evaluate their proposals for federal budget. Ashfaq Tola has been designated as Chairman of commission. Members include Asif Haroon, Haider Ali Pater, Abdul Qadir Memon, Dr. Veqar Ahmed, Saqib Sherazi, Ghaznafar Bilour, President FPCCI or his nominee, President Pakistan Tax Bar Association, Chairman FBR while member (Reforms and Modernisation) FBR has been made Secretary to commission.

Nisar Muhammad from Customs, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal from Income Tax and Abdul Hameed Memon from Sales Tax would be working with commission as subject experts. RRMC would submit its first report by mid of April 2023, according to notification. It would identify issues, difficulties, snags or risks of existing tax system and recommend remedial measures.

It would also review proposed amendments in finance bill and make recommendation, review complexities of legislation and recommend simplification, suggest action plan to curb parallel economy and to make recommendations for increasing financial inclusion. It would review and recommended robust IT system on modern lines and make recommendations for minimising taxpayer/tax collector interaction and maximising trust between FBR and taxpayer, besides making recommendation on harmonisation of GST between federation and provinces. Full-time secretariat at FBR (HQs) and board would provide logistic and HR support to commission. It may take decision by majority vote of all members.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 02 2022

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