Govt mulls doubling banking transaction threshold to Rs100,000

KARACHI: The government has agreed to double the minimum limit of daily banking transaction by non-filer liable to additional withholding tax to Rs100,000 in the next budget, central bank governor said on Monday.    

“The finance ministry and the Federal Board of Revenue agreed to increase the banking transaction threshold from the existing Rs50,000 per day to Rs100,000 for charging withholding tax in the upcoming budget of 2017/18,” said Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The government, in the budget 2015/16, introduced 0.6 percent withholding tax on non-cash banking transaction of Rs50,000 per day, made by a non-filer of income tax returns to bring them into the tax net. The rate was, however reduced to 0.4 percent, which is applicable till March 31.

Wathra, at a meeting with the members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, strongly rejected the demand of business community to review 100 percent cash margin requirement on various imported items. The items were selected after thorough deliberations, he added. “Instead of spending foreign exchange on import of non-essential items there is need to spend (it) on import of capital goods.”

The government recently bounded importers to deposit 100 percent foreign currency value of imported items as a measure to reduce the ballooning trade deficit. 

SBP governor said the saving from lower international oil prices was transferred to the import of non-essential items.

On a query raised by Siraj Kassam Teli, chairman of businessmen group related to amnesty scheme for money held by Pakistanis abroad, he said a permanent amnesty on bringing foreign exchange into the country is available. “Nobody will ask a person to bring foreign exchange into Pakistan.” 

He said the Indonesian model of whitening black money emerged successful as the country had a comprehensive database of individuals. 

“Unfortunately, Pakistan had no such database,” he added. “However, with the implementation of OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) convention, Pakistan would be able to have such information from 2018.”

SBP governor said except in some refinancing schemes introduced by the central bank, participation of businessmen generally remained lacklustre. 

He, however, expressed surprise over a substantial increase in loan under export financing scheme available at three percent despite falling exports. “Nobody knows where the money is going… either in the stock market or in the real estate business,” he said.

Governor Wathra also criticised the monopoly of some businessmen in the exports sector. “New breed should come as old exporters have earned much money,” he said. “New markets and techniques should be adopted to spur export growth.”

The governor said the law and order situation has improved during the past three years. The government has cut the tariffs of utilities for industry. “This has resulted in a significant growth in private sector’s credit off-take.”

On Export-Import Bank, Wathra said the SBP is coordinating with the finance ministry and recently sought a technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank. He said the negotiation is at an advance stage. The government published an advertisement to appoint chief executive officer of the bank.

He said formal bilateral trade between Iran and Pakistan will start with the signing of a final draft. The SBP has also relaxed certain conditions on trade with Afghanistan.