ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz said here on Thursday that new tax facilitation and collection centres were being established to provide one window operation.

“This would enable the taxpayers to have their tax related matters sorted out efficiently in a cordial and friendly atmosphere,” he added.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Working Group on Investment Promotion, he extensively talked about ways and means to improve the existing investment climate in Pakistan.

The government, he said, was committed to removing all irritants and to investor friendly environment. The group has recently been established by the government. It is headed by Shahzad Alam, a leading industrialist from Lahore and senior government functionaries and a cross section of experts from trade and industry its members.

The group will study and give recommendations on identification of quantum of under-invoicing in specific items, dumping of imported goods and remedial measures; identification of raw material for minimum customs duties; system of sales tax refunds and identification of items for levy of sales tax at enhanced rates; simplification in system of payment of duty drawback; and other areas identified by the working group including tax payers facilitation and accessibility to tax officials.

The minister briefed the group about the tax reforms, equity in taxation, broadening of the tax base, introduction of tax-friendly regime and anti-dumping laws enforced by the government.

Mr Aziz said that the government was actively working to reduce irritants to make the investment climate even more conducive. He said that it was the government’s policy to introduce transparency in tax collection by minimizing contact between the tax collectors and taxpayers.

He exhorted the group to prepare a report and action plan to help the government to increase interaction with the private sector and to make the government’s revenue collection engine friendlier and proactive.