Islamabad, Feb 8: The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to establish a fully operational tax office in Gwadar, highlighting the city’s growing economic significance and the need for enhanced tax compliance mechanisms. The call came after a recent tax awareness seminar in Gwadar, during which PTBA provisionally set up the Makran Tax Bar to serve Gwadar, Turbat, and surrounding areas.
Currently, Gwadar only has an FBR facilitation center, which PTBA argues is inadequate for addressing the increasing tax compliance and procedural needs of the businesses in the region. Given Gwadar’s pivotal role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), its expanding trade activities, and the operational Gwadar Port, PTBA believes the absence of a fully equipped tax office represents a significant gap in the region’s financial infrastructure.
A dedicated tax office in Gwadar, PTBA asserts, would help streamline tax processes, improve revenue collection, ensure better compliance, and minimize revenue leakages. It would also provide businesses with direct support, facilitating adherence to tax regulations and potentially attracting more investment to the region. Moreover, PTBA emphasizes that an FBR office in Gwadar would foster greater transparency by allowing for better monitoring and auditing of business activities, thus ensuring proper tax administration.
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In the interim, PTBA has proposed a temporary solution, suggesting that FBR officials from the regional tax office in Hub conduct hearings via video link or visit Gwadar on a rotational basis. This would save local taxpayers from the need to undertake a six-hour road journey for tax-related proceedings.
Looking to the future, PTBA has called for the establishment of a full Regional Tax Office (RTO) in Gwadar as part of the broader government vision to stimulate economic growth and regional development. The association expressed confidence that FBR would take prompt action to support the region’s businesses and ensure efficient tax administration in one of Pakistan’s most critical economic hubs.
