Misleading the Media: Mobilink Avails FBR’s Tax Amnesty Scheme

Sitara Khan

Hardly a week ago when FBR took action against Mobilink, it issued a statement in the media with firm believe that it had always at the forefront of making its due contribution to the nation’s exchequer but the revenue collection authority ruling on Sales Tax and FED was still sub-judice or unsettled in the court, which it meant the action was not justified.

On the other hand, Mobilink forthwith availed the FBR Tax Amnesty Scheme and agreed to pay outstanding tax amount of Rs. 2.5 billion by 30th May, 2012 to resolve the issue between it and authority amicably.

Mobilink pretended to show in the press that the action of the revenue collecting authority was not a right since the case was still in the court FBR’s appellate bench and the matter would be resolved by judges or concerned commissioner. But the company immediately took benefit from the amnesty scheme, which was designed for non-compliant of taxes and rule of the land.

The cellular company claimed that the company remained committed to Pakistan, and respectful of all laws, including tax laws over 17 years of operations however it seems it has started taking benefit of tax amnesty schemes

FBR’s introduced Tax Surcharge and Penalty Waiver Scheme for all tax defaulters to pay their outstanding taxes by 30 May to avoid any harsh action in future.