KARACHI: Minister for Finance & Economic Affairs Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has promised to clear all pending sales tax refunds within next two months.

He was speaking at a dinner reception hosted by Advisor on Textile Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig last evening.

Dr Hafeez said that he has personally ensured transparent payment of sales tax refund of more than Rs. 17 billion to the businessmen without any human contact between the tax collector and tax payer.

Dr. Baig appreciated Finance Minister's efforts to eradicate corruption. The former vice president of FPCCI Zubair Tufail, who was present on the occasion, confirmed to the guests that he had recently received a refund cheque of Rs. 24 million from FBR by a courier.

He said that all his refunds are up to date without any payment of consideration. The gesture was also appreciated by the business leaders Tariq Sayeed, S. M. Muneer and Iftikhar Ali Malik.

Secretary General PPP Jehangir Badar, Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadeemul Haq, Khalid Tawab, Mian Zahid Hussain, Senator Haseeb Khan, Aamir Liaquat, Ishtiaq Baig, Dr. Shehla, Begum Salma Ahmed and Abdul Kader Jaffer.