Senator Ishaq Dar, federal minister for finance, revenue and statistics Monday informed Senate that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had been directed to ensure issuance of National Tax Numbers (NTNs) to parliamentarians by January 31. Speaking in Senate, Dar said a wrong impression had been created that Pakistani lawmakers did not pay taxes, while income tax was regularly being deducted from the salaries of all members of Senate, National and Provincial Assemblies.

The minister said the last date to file tax returns for the MPs was December 16, 2013 and now after issuance of NTN numbers, the tax details of all MPs would be made public by February 15, 2014. Dar pointed out that FBR had already given a detailed briefing to Public Accounts Committee of National Assembly on the issue. In order to remove misperception, he added, the FBR had also set up desks in parliament to facilitate MPs, but even then some 12 percent members could not get their NTNs.

He said in the first phase, tax details of parliamentarians would be made public and in the next phase tax details of all taxpayers would be published within two months. The statement made by the minister was appreciated by opposition senators. Aitzaz Ahsan, leader of opposition in Senate, specially thanked the minister and said the step taken by Dar was commendable.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014