ISLAMABAD: During their ongoing technical-level discussions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has requested that Pakistan furnish a report outlining potential tax collection across all sectors.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given assurances to the visiting IMF team that they will meet the tax collection target of Rs9,415 billion for the current year. Additionally, the IMF has asked for an update on the status of pending tax cases from the FBR, which is expected on Monday.
As of now, Pakistan has managed to collect Rs2,748 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal year. The IMF is also seeking a comprehensive plan for collecting the remaining Rs6,670 billion by June 2024. FBR officials maintain that there is no foreseeable shortfall in reaching the targeted tax revenue. They have shared information about one million new taxpayers who have been added to the tax base with the IMF.
Furthermore, discussions between the two parties have centered on a proposed initiative to increase the number of existing taxpayers from 4.9 million to 10 million. They are also considering consulting with the IMF and the World Bank to expand the tax base. The IMF’s emphasis is on augmenting tax revenue by increasing the taxpayer base, according to insider sources.
Quetta Medical Crisis: Congo Virus And Mysterious Pathogen Outbreaks Raise Concerns
Meanwhile, according to a representative from the Integrated Health Monitoring and Emergency Response Unit of the Balochistan Health Department, sixteen healthcare staff members have been affected by this pathogen outbreak within the Civil Sandeman Hospital’s ICU in Quetta. The affected individuals have been relocated to a dedicated ward for treatment.
The symptoms associated with this pathogen include a sudden onset of severe body pain, accompanied by a high fever, stiffness, and chills. Additionally, mild respiratory symptoms, a decrease in platelet count, and lymphopenia are also observed.
The spokesman emphasized the high contagiousness of this pathogen and mentioned that health directorate teams are actively working to contain the situation. Samples are being analyzed in laboratories to identify the specific pathogens responsible.
