PESHAWAR: Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Asim Ahmed has termed the current financial situation in the country as ‘critical’.

“Economic situation [in the country] is critical and there is a shortfall in revenue. We will soon overcome the tax gap,” Mr Ahmad said during his address at a function held at the Customs House here on Thursday to mark the International Customs Day.

He added that the Rs7.47 trillion revenue target would be achieved since those who had not been paying tax would be brought under the tax net.

The FBR chairman said that the collectorate had shifted to direct taxes adding direct tax collection would be more than indirect tax collection during the current financial year.

He said the Torkham border crossing was operational round the clock and added that steps were being taken to operationalise other border crossings on the same pattern.

“We don’t have any issues for operationalising the border crossing for round the clock services, the other side [Afghanistan] has,” Mr Ahmad said.

However, Afghanistan’s Consul General in Peshawar Hafiz Mohibullah stated that there was no issue on their side of the border.

“Trade is what develops nations because more we have good relations, the more the volume of trade will increase,” Mohibullah told Dawn, adding “it [trade activities] will strengthen our relations”.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Trump’s folly
Updated 13 Feb, 2025

Trump’s folly

This latest pronouncement only reinforces the fears of those who see the plan as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.
Corruption ranking
13 Feb, 2025

Corruption ranking

IT comes as little surprise. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024, unveiled on...
Support from remittances
13 Feb, 2025

Support from remittances

EVEN though workers’ remittances dipped, albeit negligibly, in January on a month-over-month basis, the earnings...
Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...