The IHC has decided to halt the FBR’s directive to block over 500,000 SIMs of individuals who did not file their tax returns in 2023. There is a delicate balance that we need to find between tax enforcement and safeguarding our fundamental rights as citizens. Widening the tax net through simply blocking SIMs should not be the first strategy we implement either. The focus should be on killing the big fish here – major tax evaders, property schemes, and large manufacturers – these need to be incorporated into the tax net. We must adopt a more nuanced and strategic approach to tax enforcement overall – one that balanced our revenue goals with citizens’ rights.

Source: The Nation May 15, 2024 08:47 UTC