1.8 million taxpayers out of total 2.5 million are from salaried class: Hina.

ISLAMABAD , July 30, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Minister of state for finance and economic affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told senate on Thursday that 1.8 million out of total 2.5 million tax payers are from salaried class adding Rs 27.37 billion have been collected as tax from the salaried class during the financial year 2008-9. Giving replies to several questions in senate Thursday minister of state for finance told revenue accrued from tax collection constituted only 9.6 percent of total GDP. Besides broadening tax net for the sake of increase in taxes, those who were registered tax payers but were not paying tax would have to be persuaded to pay tax, she added. Responding to a question she told we have to extend hands to any international donor agency to seek loans after every two years as tax revenue targets are not met. To another question she told a sum of Rs 1.75 million was paid as bonus to chairman and other two commissioners of security and exchange commission of Pakistan on the basis of their efficiency during the financial year 2007-08 and 2008-09. This payment had been made according to rules and regulations, she told. To a call attention notice of senator professor Ibrahim, state minister for finance told over 300 employees working in federal bureau of statistics since the last 8 years on contract basis could not be regularized. These posts were not regular posts and the services of these employees would no more be required following the completion of projects, she added.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)