–Firdous says PM Imran will take decision on extension after meeting with stakeholders on Sunday
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi on Saturday rejected speculation in the media that any extension would be given in the deadline for the government’s Asset Declaration Scheme.
“No extension is being provided in the Asset Declaration Scheme,” read a statement from the FBR.
The FBR confirmed that June 30 was the final date for people to enter into the scheme and declare assets.
However, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said the decision on extension in the deadline for the amnesty scheme would be taken during a meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan with stakeholders on Sunday.
Speaking to media persons outside the Parliament House flanked by Chief Whip of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Aamir Dogar, she said the prime minister would chair a meeting of all the stakeholders, including representatives of chambers of commerce and industry.
The decision would be taken in the larger interest of the country, she added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had on Thursday hinted at an extension in the Asset Declaration Scheme in order to avoid inconvenience caused to citizens by the June 30 deadline.
During a special PTV transmission with the prime minister in attendance via video link, business tycoon Aqeel Karim Dedhi had asked the premier whether he would consider an extension in the deadline.
“I think the number of people interested in the scheme could be much larger if there was some clarification on what the purpose of this is, whether people have to deposit cash by June 30, whether this deadline can be extended by a couple of months. For instance, if you could register first and make the 4 per cent penalty payment, but deposit cash in the bank later?” he had proposed.
Prime Minister Imran had noted that although it appeared that leaving things until the last minute was a Pakistani trait, he was “considering it, because there’s a lot of pressure, and lots of people are saying that there is too little time left to register”.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has voiced opposition to the idea of extending the deadline for the amnesty scheme, saying doing so could hurt the country’s case at the Board meeting that is scheduled to take up Pakistan request for a $6 billion bailout package on July 3.