ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), has opposed a controversial government bill which will provide amnesty to major tax evaders.

During a session of the Senate’s Standing Committee for Finance on Friday, PML-N lawmaker Ishaq Dar opposed the bill.

Senator Dar said that as the current government’s tenure was about to end, it would be better if the new tax bills were deferred for the new government to consider.

Friday’s session was chaired by Senator Nasreen Jalil at the Parliament House.

Chairman Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) Ali Arshad Hakeem said that the wealthiest two million people in Pakistan did not pay their taxes. The FBR chairman added that notices would be sent out in a few days to these tax defaulters.

Moreover, he suggested that those employed in the government service for five years and lawmakers may be exempted from benefiting from this scheme.

The chairman of FBR added that the new government would also benefit from the tax scheme.