Over 9,000 non-filers Sims blocked on FBR’s orders

ISLAMABAD: More than 9,000 Sims of non-filers have been blocked all over the country as per the directives of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), a spokesperson of the tax collecting body said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said the FBR informed the telecommunication companies about the decision to block Sims in order to curb tax evasion to improve revenue generation amid dire economic indicators in a meeting on Tuesday. “The decision has been made by parliament, therefore, the government’s decision should be implemented in any case,” he added.

Meanwhile, sources said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has distanced itself from the matter of SIM’s blocking. The authority maintains that it did not have the authority to block the Sims. Earlier, two telecom firms blocked another 3,500 Sims owned by non-filers on Tuesday, the FBR spokesperson said. He further stated that the Sims of those who file tax returns will be unblocked immediately.