The Asan Tax Scheme has brought 9,806 shopkeepers into Pakistan’s tax net within a month of its launch, with 1,929 of those registered under the initiative entering the tax system for the first time. The figures were shared during a review meeting chaired by Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, where officials provided an update on implementation while representatives of the trading community raised concerns about the process.
According to the briefing presented at the meeting, the registered shopkeepers are at different stages of filing their tax returns. Of the 9,806 traders registered under the scheme, 428 have already filed their returns. Officials said registrations and return filings have been recorded among shopkeepers operating in both smaller cities and major urban centres, indicating that the scheme is being used by traders across different parts of the country.
During the meeting, Kayani directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to address technical objections raised by shopkeepers and tax lawyers regarding implementation of the scheme. He also instructed the relevant authorities to issue FBR plates to shopkeepers who have completed their return filing process at the earliest. The directions were issued as part of efforts to address implementation-related issues and facilitate traders participating in the tax registration and filing process.
Kayani described the Asan Tax Scheme as a facility specifically designed for shopkeepers and said it was not available to other business segments. He encouraged more shopkeepers to register under the initiative and urged traders who had remained outside the tax system to use the scheme to enter the formal tax framework. The government has been using the programme to bring more traders into the tax system through a dedicated mechanism for shopkeepers.
The meeting also decided to maintain daily communication between traders and FBR officials to support implementation of the scheme. Officials and trader representatives agreed to continue engagement while also strengthening interaction with tax bars and lawyers. The continued communication is intended to help address technical and procedural concerns raised during the implementation process and provide traders with clearer information about registration, return filing and other requirements under the scheme.
Officials further informed participants that an Urdu-language information booklet had been issued to provide shopkeepers with details about the Asan Tax Scheme. The booklet also explains the previous procedure for filing tax returns and outlines the penalties applicable when taxpayers fail to meet the relevant deadlines. The publication is intended to improve awareness among traders who may need additional guidance on the requirements associated with the scheme.
The government has also outlined financial penalties for shopkeepers who fail to pay their taxes after the applicable deadline. According to the information shared at the meeting, a penalty of Rs10,000 will apply during the first month following the deadline, increasing to Rs25,000 in the second month and Rs50,000 in the third month. The penalty structure forms part of the compliance framework associated with the scheme and applies when taxpayers do not fulfil their payment obligations within the prescribed period.
Trader representatives attending the meeting assured the government of their cooperation with the initiative while noting that creating awareness among shopkeepers would require time. They also raised implementation-related concerns that officials were asked to address. Tax commissioners briefed the meeting about their engagement with tax bars in their respective areas, while the government emphasised continued coordination between tax authorities, traders and tax professionals.
Trader leaders Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry, Member Strategic Transformation Dr Hamid Atiq, Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal and senior FBR officials attended the review meeting. Chief commissioners and commissioners from across the country also participated through video link. With 9,806 shopkeepers already registered and 1,929 entering the tax system for the first time, the Asan Tax Scheme is continuing its initial implementation phase as the FBR and trader representatives work on registration, return filing, technical issues and taxpayer awareness.
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