The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has expedited its efforts to enforce income tax general order that involves action against non-filers, especially the blockage of their mobile phone SIMs.

FBR officials held meetings with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecommunication operators, reaching an agreement on blocking the SIMs issued to people who failed to file tax return despite becoming liable to do so, sources told Aaj News.

In a significant development, it has come to light that messages warning non-filers about blocking their SIMs have been initiated. Telcos have started sending alerts to consumers who face SIM blockage action.

The SIMs will be blocked in batches and the details regarding the blocking of 5,000 SIMs have been handed over to the operators, the sources said.

The meetings between telcos and FBR continued for several days. Earlier, the Telecom Operators Association of Pakistan had denied the report of an agreement with the Federal Board of Revenue over blocking of SIMs belonging to non-filers.

The FBR is seeking blockage of over half a million SIMs being used by people who failed to file tax returns. It reportedly wants to expand the number to over one million in the next phase. However, telecom operators believe there is no provision in the existing laws of the country to block SIMs and deny people of one of their fundamental rights.