Govt Celebrates As 10,000 of 3.5 Million Traders Join Tax Net

The government has reported significant progress in its Asan Tax Scheme (ATS), as nearly 10,000 shopkeepers registered during the scheme's inaugural month, with 9,806 traders joining the tax system, according to official data. State Minister for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani chaired a meeting on Friday to review the scheme's implementation and its first month's achievements. Among the attendees were traders Ajmal Baloch and Kashif Chaudhry.

Of the 9,806 shopkeepers registered under the scheme, 1,929 were making their tax debut, while 428 had previously filed their tax returns. The government confirmed that tax returns were submitted by shopkeepers in both small and major cities. The meeting aimed to discuss the progress of ATS, a scheme specifically designed for shopkeepers, which was launched to bring around 3.5 million of them into the tax system by fiscal year 2026-27.

Kayani emphasized that the registered traders were at various stages of completing their tax returns and directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to resolve technical issues raised by shopkeepers and lawyers. He also ordered the issuance of FBR plates to shopkeepers who had filed their tax returns promptly. The state minister encouraged more traders to register under the scheme, emphasizing there was no reason for shopkeepers to remain non-filers following its launch.