In compliance with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s directives, more than 9,000 SIM cards belonging to non-filers have been blocked across the country, a spokesperson for the tax authority announced on Wednesday.
The spokesperson indicated that the FBR had notified telecommunication companies of this measure during a meeting on Tuesday, aiming to curb tax evasion and bolster revenue collection amidst challenging economic conditions.
“This decision was made by parliament and must be enforced,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has clarified that it is not involved in the SIM blocking process, stating that it lacks the authority to do so.
On Tuesday, two telecom companies had already blocked an additional 3,500 SIMs owned by non-filers, the FBR spokesperson reported.
He also mentioned that the SIMs of individuals who file their tax returns will be unblocked promptly.
