ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan in a video message, on Monday, urged the nation to declare assets and avail tax amnesty scheme before June 30 to help strengthen the national exchequer.
Khan’s special message was broadcasted just a day ahead of the announcement of federal budget for the next fiscal year. The government is set to present its PKR 6.8 trillion fiscal budget on Tuesday, June 11, with an estimated fiscal deficit touching a record high compared to PKR 1890.2 billion in the last budget.
The premier said that Pakistan collects around PKR 4,000 billion in taxes every year out of which half the amount goes in debt servicing. “This nation has the capacity to generate PKR 10,000 billion in taxes,” Khan added.
He urged people to announce their benami (undeclared) assets and avail the Asset Declaration Scheme which aims to “document the economy” by bringing “dead assets into the economy and make them functional.”
Khan said that his government had information about fake bank accounts and undeclared properties outside Pakistan and that agreements had been signed with different countries in this regards.
Reiterating his appeal to the people, he stressed that “the government will not be able to lift the country up” if people don’t pay their due tax.
In May this year, the government announced a new tax amnesty scheme to broaden revenue collection. The scheme expires on June 30.
The Assets Declaration Scheme allows Pakistani all nationals, except public office holders and their spouses, who have not yet declared their assets to announce them by paying 4 percent tax on domestic and 6 percent tax on offshore assets.
PM Khan urges people to declare assets in his pre-budget speech
PM Khan urges people to declare assets in his pre-budget speech
- Reiterates appeal to avail tax amnesty before June 30
- Says half the tax collection goes in debt servicing
India captain says will travel for Pakistan clash despite boycott
- Pakistan have announced they will boycott their match against India on Feb. 15 in Sri Lanka
- India need to be at the stadium on Feb. 15 to ensure they are awarded two points for match
MUMBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav said Thursday that his team would show up in Colombo for their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite their Group A opponents and arch-rivals boycotting the match.
“We haven’t said no to playing them (Pakistan),” Yadav told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, where India will begin their campaign against the United States on Saturday’s opening day.
“They are the ones who have said no. Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”
India need to be at the stadium and ready to take the field for the February 15 match in order to make sure of being awarded the two points for a match forfeit.
The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, has been overshadowed by weeks of political posturing in the build-up.
Bangladesh were kicked out for refusing to play in India and Pakistan’s government then told its team not to show up at the clash of the arch-rivals as a show of support for Bangladesh.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments events.
India start the T20 World Cup on home soil with a great chance of retaining the title they won two years ago and Yadav agreed they were the side to beat.
“The way we have been playing, it looks like we are the favorites,” he smiled.
If that seemed like an overconfident statement, the India captain was quick to caution: “There are 19 (other) good teams in the tournament, though.
“On a given day, when you play, you have to bring your A-game and play good cricket.”
India know that their opening opponents, the United States, caused the biggest upset of the 2024 tournament when they beat Pakistan in a super over.
Yadav said no team would be taken lightly.
“I’m sure every game will be very important,” he said.
