Despite the refusal of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is adamant about blocking the SIMs of 506,671 non-filers.
According to reports, FBR has decided to call a meeting of the telecom operators at the FBR Headquarters to block SIMs of these individuals.
FBR’s sources told Business Recorder that PTA’s refusal does not hold significance, as it is a regulatory body, and the SIMs would ultimately be blocked by the cellular companies themselves.
The telecom operators will meet the FBR Member Inland Revenue (Operations), where they will be directed to block the SIMs by May 15, 2024. The sources claimed that the PTA lacks the authority to directly block or unblock SIM cards, this responsibility rests with the telecom operators.
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It is pertinent to note that the telecommunication authority has decided against blocking the SIMs of over 500,000 individuals. The PTA has warned of the potential impact of the SIM blockage on foreign investment in the telecom sector.
Furthermore, it stated that this would affect banking transactions, e-commerce, and mobile account users. Non-filers of income tax returns can check their names in the list of 506,671 individuals outlined in the Income Tax General Order No 01 of 2024, accessible on the FBR’s website.
