The collection in direct taxes surpassed the target of Rs 265 billion to Rs 318 billion during the current financial year, which is the highest at 42 percent of federal revenue total.
"In view of the response from all stakeholders in tax collection process, our resolve, dedication and commitment to reforms, have increased manifold," Haji Ahmed, Director-General, Regional Tax Office, said while speaking at a post-budget seminar held by Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) here on Saturday.
In line with CBR 'Vision 2017', the government has proposed a host of changes in taxation and other allied statutes through Finance Bill 2007, he said, adding that most of these changes, especially in banking and corporate sector, emerged out of the strong desire to have a vibrant revenue collection system, with focus on documentation of economy, simplification of laws and procedures, taxpayer's facilitation and education, automation and reforms in the organisation.
"Various amendments proposed in the law, which have been discussed in this seminar, establish that we want to change, and we want to change only for the better," he observed.
He said: "CBR takes pride in being a public sector organisation, which has contemplated, and is implementing, changes in almost every sphere of its activity.
"Our national history bears a testimony to the fact that such an all-pervasive, all-comprehensive and all-embracing reforms, touching the very vitals of an organisation, were never there in any state department in Pakistan. CBR has achieved a number of successes during its journey of reforms."
Appreciating the LTBA initiative for holding the seminar, the DG, RTO, Lahore, said that the proposals analysed by the speakers would be communicated to CBR and would be given due consideration. Shahbaz Butt, LTBA President, Shahid Baig, and other experts spoke on various amendments proposed in the federal budget 2007-08 and their implications.