PTBA urges FBR to set up a fully operational tax office in Gwadar to improve tax compliance, enhance transparency, and boost economic growth in the region.
PTBA Calls for Enhanced Tax Infrastructure
The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to establish a fully operational tax office in Gwadar, emphasizing the city’s growing economic significance and the necessity for an improved tax compliance framework. This appeal follows a tax awareness seminar in Gwadar, where PTBA took the initiative to provisionally set up the Makran Tax Bar, covering Gwadar, Turbat, and surrounding areas.
Current Tax Setup Insufficient
At present, Gwadar hosts only an FBR facilitation center, which PTBA contends is inadequate to handle the increasing compliance and procedural demands of businesses in the region. Considering Gwadar’s strategic importance in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the rise in trade activities, and the fully functional Gwadar Port, the absence of a properly equipped tax office is viewed as a significant shortfall in the financial infrastructure of the area.
Benefits of a Dedicated Tax Office
A dedicated tax office would play a crucial role in strengthening revenue collection by streamlining tax processes, ensuring compliance from businesses, and minimizing revenue leakages. It would also provide essential direct support to businesses, making it easier for them to meet tax obligations, thereby fostering an environment conducive to greater investment in the region.
Transparency and Immediate Solutions
Moreover, PTBA believes that a stronger FBR presence in Gwadar would enhance transparency through improved monitoring and auditing of business activities. To mitigate the immediate shortfall, PTBA has suggested that officials from the regional tax office in Hub could conduct hearings via video link or visit Gwadar periodically. This would save local taxpayers from undertaking an arduous six-hour road journey for tax-related matters.
Long-Term Vision for a Regional Tax Office
In the long term, PTBA has proposed the establishment of a Regional Tax Office (RTO) in Gwadar, aligning with the government’s broader vision for economic expansion and regional development. The association remains optimistic that FBR will take prompt action to facilitate businesses in Gwadar and ensure an efficient tax administration framework in one of Pakistan’s most critical economic hubs.
