ISLAMABAD: After receiving a poor response to the government’s Asaan tax scheme for retailers, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will launch nationwide mapping of markets and individual shops from Friday in collaboration with traders’ representatives to bring more retailers into the tax net.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani to review progress on implementation of the Asaan tax scheme, and it was decided to continue review meetings to monitor its implementation. Trader leaders Ajmal Baloch, Kashif Chaudhry and Habib Fakhruddin attended the meeting.
Member Strategic Transformation Dr Hamid Atiq, Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal, senior FBR officials, and chief commissioners and commissioners from across the country also participated through video link.
READ MORE: Small shopkeepers: Special tax scheme in its initial implementation stage: FBR
According to FBR, there are around 4.3 million commercial WAPDA electricity meters across the country, against only around 600,000 commercial meter holders who filed tax returns.
The FBR will target 500,000 to one million retailers, including around 200,000 expected to join the scheme voluntarily, while the remaining retailers will be brought into the tax net through enforcement.
FBR officers will visit markets according to a daily schedule along with trader representatives and map each market and individual shop, while also creating awareness among shopkeepers about the easy tax scheme.
Kayani directed the FBR to ensure that its field officers work jointly with trader representatives during the mapping exercise and address shopkeepers’ concerns regarding registration and filing of returns.
The meeting was informed that a technical issue relating to the “other income” column in tax returns, identified by traders, had been resolved.
Addressing the meeting, Kayani said shopkeepers had been provided a tax scheme according to their requirements, and there was now no justification for failing to file tax returns.
He said penalties under the scheme had also been fixed in consultation with traders.
The minister urged shopkeepers to benefit from the 15-day extension granted for filing tax returns.
He said after expiry of the return-filing deadline, a shopkeeper would face a penalty of Rs10,000 during the first month, Rs25,000 in the second month and Rs50,000 in the third month.
Trader leader Kashif Chaudhry told Business Recorder that Pakistan had developed a culture of tax non-compliance over the past 78 years, and the government’s objective through the scheme was to bring more people into the tax net and promote a tax-paying culture.
He said traders had the option either to join the Asaan Tax Scheme or continue under the regular tax regime. So far, around 0.2 million new taxpayers had been added this year, while around 190,000 retailers had registered under the Asaan Tax Scheme.
He said the deadline for filing tax returns had also been extended and expressed hope that traders would take advantage of the opportunity and comply with their tax obligations.
Replying to a question, Chaudhry said the government should focus on creating awareness among traders before resorting to fines or punitive measures. “Fines should be the last course of action,” he said.
He further said political instability had severely affected businesses, with traders facing difficulties even in meeting their basic expenses. The government, he added, should take steps to create a more conducive business environment and provide relief to businesses struggling under the current economic conditions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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