Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken decisive action by issuing an order to disable mobile phone SIMs belonging to 506,671 individuals who are not listed as active taxpayers but are required to file Income Tax Returns for the Tax Year 2023.
The tax authority has issued an Income Tax General Order (ITGO) under the authority vested by section 114B of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.
FBR has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and all telecom operators to enforce the ITGO immediately, ensuring prompt implementation of the order.
Additionally, FBR has requested a compliance report from the telecom operators by May 15, 2024.
SIMs these Pakistanis Will be Blocked – Full List
The SIM cards linked to the following individuals’ CNIC will be blocked:
How to Unblock Your SIM Card?
Individuals whose SIMs are subject to blocking can have them unblocked by filing their Income Tax Return for the year 2023. The SIMs will remain blocked until they are restored by either the FBR or the Commissioner Inland Revenue with jurisdiction over the individual.
Once the tax returns are filed, the relevant authority will decide on the restoration of the SIM card.
This action underscores the FBR’s commitment to promoting tax compliance and ensuring that individuals fulfill their obligations under the law. It serves as a reminder to taxpayers of the importance of timely filing their income tax returns to avoid inconvenience and potential disruptions to their mobile phone services.
