The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the telecom operations to block mobile SIMs of over 500,000 non-filers.

Last month, the FBR missed the Income Tax General Order to disable the mobile phone SIMs in respect of persons “who are not appearing on active taxpayer list but are liable to file the Income Tax Retum for Tax Year 2023 under the provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001”.

According to an FBR spokesperson, such individuals have not fulfilled their tax obligations despite being eligible to file returns.

But the telecom operators have refused to adhere to the request while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, in a news statement, stressed the need for maintaining a balance between the FBR’s objective of disabling SIM cards and protecting the investments of telecom operators.

A final decision is still awaited. People can check whether they are on the list or not by searching their name by clicking on the FBR link. They have to click Ctrl+F and enter their full name or CNIC to check their status.

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It should be noted that the FBR had issued notices to 2.4 million people, but in the first phase, action is to be taken against 506,000 individuals. Each person may have multiple SIM cards, and all connections will be terminated immediately.