The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has disclosed that mobile phone SIM cards registered in the names of deceased individuals continue to function across Pakistan, with income tax returns also being filed in their names. This situation arises because families often fail to submit death certificates, as revealed during a Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue meeting on Wednesday.
FBR officials explained that in some cases, relatives choose to keep the SIM cards of deceased family members active as a memento. They emphasized that timely submission of death certificates would enable the proper deactivation of these SIMs.
Chairman FBR, Rashid Langrial, informed the committee that the FBR has prepared a draft ordinance to enhance enforcement measures, which could be introduced at any time. He also ruled out offering discounts on banks’ advance deposit ratios, aiming to prevent banks from lending to the government for profit rather than supporting the private sector. Langrial highlighted that banks often extend funds on December 30, only to withdraw them by January 10.
In other developments, the FBR confirmed that the track and trace system for the sugar sector will be fully operational by November 15. The chairman also noted irregularities in production and tax payments within the tobacco sector, with 42% of cigarettes in Pakistan being smuggled or illegally produced, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Additionally, Chairman FBR Rashid Langrial mentioned that a report has been requested from the Director General of Excise Punjab to address industry complaints regarding the lack of permission for exporting alcohol from Pakistan.
