2,040 medical facilities avoiding income tax: FBR

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed on Friday that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has identified 2,040 private hospitals, clinics, doctors and medical practitioners in the country who do not pay the income tax.

Minister for Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh told the house in a written reply that out of the 2,040, return has been enforced in 499 cases, while 1,541 cases are still in the progress for recovery of income tax.

Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim told the house that various measures had been taken to enhance Pakistani exports to earn more foreign exchange and bring and divert trade balance into Pakistan’s favour.

Answering questions in the house, he said the Ministry of Commerce had been working on a strategy to explore new markets to enhance Pakistani exports and it had been successful as the new export market of China, Hong Kong, Russia, Malaysia, the African region and Eastern Europe besides an increase in exports to the traditional markets.

Fahim said Pakistan produced the best quality mango and its export had been increased significantly due to the improvement of its processing. He said Pakistan had explored Australia as the new mango export market.

To a question he said there had been no shortage of sugar in the country as the government had already arranged its required quantity from Thailand, Dubai and Brazil through the private sector.

Fahim said a new transit trade deal with Afghanistan had been in the process of being finalised.