Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Wednesday urged the officers of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to improve their performance for enhancing country’s tax revenues.

“The public is expecting from you to show exceptional performance in order to achieve the set target (revised) of Rs. 1604 billion”, he said while addressing Chief Commissioners and Commissioners of Inland Revenue who gathered here to discuss national targets and collections position, implementation of short term enforcement measures and other issues.

Dr. Hafeez said all the officials of FBR are professionally talented and are capable enough to help meet the challenges but sincerity, enthusiasm and sense of responsibility is what they needed.

“If other developed countries have 18-20 per cent tax to GDP ratio, why Pakistan has only 10 per cent ratio”, he asked the officers and said that they can also help achieving this target by putting their extra efforts with honesty and dedication.

He said that all the officers should have to be more alert and active and warned there will be zero tolerance for inefficient officers. “If any person who is not interested to work may quit and let others to come forward”, he warned the officers.

“It is the national requirement that honest and talented officers should be brought in forefront and given the task to achieve the targets”, he added.

He on the occasion vowed that all the rich people would be brought under tax net and the collected money would be spent on the welfare for the poor.

“It is not only a political requirement to expand the tax net but also is a requirement of justice”, he added.