• First batch comprising 5,000 non-filers has been communicated to telecom operators for disabling their mobile phone SIMs, board says BR Web Desk Published May 10, 2024 Updated about 7 hours ago In an important development, telecom operators in Pakistan have apparently agreed to initiate a manual process of disabling the mobile SIMs of non-filers in small batches, blocking 5,000 tax evaders in the first phase, as per a post on X by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday. The development comes a day after the GSM Association (GSMA), an international organisation that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, expressed concern over the Income Tax General Order (ITGO) issued by the FBR on April 30, 2024 over blocking mobile sims of non-filers. “FBR has held a series of significant meetings with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators across Pakistan to ensure effective implementation of Income Tax General Order No. 1, issued under Section 114B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. SIMs of non-filers: Cellular cos/telecom operators apprise ministry about their concern “As a result, telecom operators have agreed to initiate the manual blocking process in small batches till their systems are fully equipped to automate it,” the FBR said in its post on X, formerly Twitter. According to the post, the first batch comprising 5,000 non-filers has been communicated to the telecom operators for disabling their mobile phone SIMs. “Subsequent batches will be sent on a…