ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has lauded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for registering record growth of 16.2 per cent in revenue collection in March, 2017 as compared to the same month of previous fiscal year.
Addressing a meeting of senior officials of FBR, the finance minister emphasised that all out efforts must continue during the last quarter of the financial year to achieve the revenue targets.
The minister stated that the shortfall that FBR experienced in the first eight months was due to the pro-growth incentives offered to various sectors of the economy particularly exports and agriculture.
Major revenue gap amounting to Rs 100 billion was due to the fact that the government had absorbed a considerable impact of increase in POL prices without passing it on to the common man. He hoped that the FBR would be able to bridge the gap through a concerted effort.
Dar said that having achieved macro-economic stability through its prudent fiscal policies, the government was now fully focused on consolidation of economic gains achieved thus far.
It was endeavouring to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth and revenue generation was the most important factor in this regard, he added.
He emphasised the need for the tax collectors to maintain a spirit of cordiality with the tax payer as it was the very essence of a good tax culture in any country.