May 14, 2024 In a bid to bolster tax compliance and enforcement measures, telecom operators in Pakistan have initiated the daily blocking of SIM cards belonging to non-filers of income tax returns. This move comes following assurances given to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance, where telecom companies pledged to block 5,000 SIMs of non-filers on a daily basis. The process kicked off with the blocking of the first batch of 5,000 SIM cards out of a total of half a million identified for suspension. High-ranking officials from both the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) were present during the meeting, where agreements were reached to implement the measures outlined in the Income Tax General Order No 1 of 2024. Under this agreement, telecom operators have commenced the blocking of SIM cards in accordance with the FBR’s directives. Individuals identified as non-filers have been duly notified through messages sent by the tax authorities, warning them of the impending blockage of their mobile phone connections if they fail to file their tax returns. The process involves a phased approach, with batches of 5,000 non-filers being sent to telecom companies on a daily basis for SIM blocking. While the initial phase requires manual…