ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: The chairman, Central Board of Revenue (CBR), M. Abdullah Yousuf said on Saturday that tax authorities would soon start a drive across the country for bringing into tax net the unregistered ghee units to realize maximum revenue from the sector.

Addressing at a gathering of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturer's Association (PVMA), the chairman urged the association to help out the tax authorities in locating those units, which were not registered with the sales tax department and evading taxes.

"We will encourage those people who will provide us the list of those units which are not registered with the sales tax department," he said.

Mr Abdullah criticized the association for the strike call, which was later called off, what he termed categorically a blackmailing tactics to get their undue demands accepted by the government.

"Pressure tactics do not do any good because it could not convey the right message. If you think that issue can be resolved through strike then go for it. The issue involved legal implications which needs patience," the chairman remarked.

The chairman assured the association that revised sales tax returns would not be used in future for the income tax assessment purposes. He also said that collectors have been directed to identify the people involved in the misappropriation of invoices particularly in the months of May-June 2004.

Mr Abdullah said that the refunds issue of the PVMA member units have been sorted out and it would be sanctioned shortly to them.

The acting chairman (PVMA), Sh. Muhammad Ikram urged the CBR to announce the same relief for the ghee units located in the tariff areas, which were given to ghee units in Fata and Pata.

He said that the concession given to units located in Fata and Pata would create uneven playing field for other manufacturers in the settled areas.