ISLAMABAD, Dec 25: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance has asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend date for filing tax returns without any fine till Jan 15.

It also asked the FBR to provide tax details of the officers of grade 21 and above.

The recommendation was made in a meeting of the committee held with Khawaja Sohail Mansoor chairing the meeting.

The FBR informed the committee that there were 1.8 million National Tax Number (NTN) holders in the country and 0.9 million of total were paying tax.

“The investigation is going on in the matter of leakage of information of tax detail of lawmakers,” FBR authorities said adding that as soon as it was completed, the report would be revealed.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali said that extension of date would give FBR an opportunity to increase the tax net.

Besides, the committee also directed the FBR to establish a tax facility centre in the National Assembly House to facilitate parliamentarians.

In addition, booklets containing information about FBR be also dispatched to lawmakers, the committee recommended.

Bushra Gohar said that online forms for filing returns of tax be friendly and easy.

Apart from this, online form should be available in every language as any one can easily go through and fill out for filing tax returns, she said.

Abdul Rasheed Godil informed the committee that about Rs67,000 per year was being deducted from salary of each parliamentarian as tax.

“Why is this amount not reflected anywhere in the record of FBR?” Godil questioned the FBR authorities.

Managing Director (MD) PIA Junaid Younus informed the committee that the national carrier was operating in profit for the last three months since the new management took over.

“Fuel is one of the main reasons of losses due to price fluctuation of fuels in the international markets,” Younus said. The committee also directed PIA to submit a detailed report on appointments and promotions made in the institution and the criteria followed in this regard.

The committee also sought detailed report on profit and loss of the country's airports with reasons.—APP