ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to clear outstanding sales tax refunds early next week.

Chairing a meeting on Saturday, he directed the FBR that those claims in respect of which refund payment orders (RPO) had been issued till April 30, 2016 should be finalised by Aug 23.

The claims where RPOs were issued up to June 30, 2016 would be considered and finalised later.

An official statement issued here said that the meeting reviewed the process for sales tax refunds promised in budget 2016. The meeting discussed the current position of the sales tax refunds and their break-up in different sectors.

Mr Dar directed FBR officials that every effort should be made to facilitate the business community, including exporters. He expressed the hope that finalisation of sales tax refunds would help in increasing the business activity in the country.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2016