KARACHI: Former finance minister Miftah Islmail on Tuesday expressed disappointment at the PTI government reversing the previous government’s decision to impose a ban on non-taxpayers from buying new cars and expensive land.
In a tweet, he said: “Very disappointed that PTI govt has lifted the ban on non-taxpayers from buying new cars and expensive land. We were under intense pressure from auto companies and land developers but we didn’t budge. But today I am sorry to say automakers have won and Pakistani taxpayers lost.”
Very disappointed that PTI govt has lifted the ban on non-taxpayers from buying new cars and expensive land. We were under intense pressure from auto companies and land developers but we didn’t budge. But today I am sorry to say automakers have won and Pakistani taxpayers lost.
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) September 18, 2018
Earlier today, Finance Minister Asad Umar presented a supplementary budget in the National Assembly session, proposing amendments to the fiscal budget for 2018-19.
Among other proposals was the withdrawal of curbs on non-filers of tax returns from buying property and new cars.
Addressing the session, the minister said the government would also remove a ban on non-taxpayers which restricted them from buying property and vehicles because a number of Pakistanis living abroad had complained that the bar prevented them from buying property in Pakistan despite the fact that they are not required to file tax returns.
Earlier this year, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, headed by PPP Senator Farooq H Naek, had partially endorsed the then government’s proposal to impose curbs on purchase of property and motor vehicles by the non-filers of the income tax returns.
