Deadlock persists between FBR, CMOs over blocking of 0.5m SIMs

• OMC spokesperson says meeting highlighted several issues. 
• No assurances provided by OMCs for blocking SIMs, he says. 
• FBR notifies project management team about digitisation. 

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and cellular mobile operators (CMOs) failed to reach a consensus over the blocking of 0.5 million sims belonging to non-filers, The News reported Wednesday. 

The development comes a day after the telecom sector declared FBR's move as a sheer violation of Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) Act 1996, license conditions and regulations. 

OMCs spokesperson said that during the meeting with FBR, additional technical, operational, and legal issues were highlighted, necessitating further deliberations.

“No assurances were provided by telecom operators for blocking SIMs,” he added.

Despite reaching out to FBR Chairman Amjad Zubair Tawana for comments on the discussions with CMOs, no response was received by the time of filing The News report.

Moreover, the tax collecting authority had also made progress toward digitalisation as it notified project management team of Tax System Digitalisation.

The team consists of Muhammad Khalid Jamil (IRS/BS-20) as project director (convener), Zainul Abidin Sahi (IRS/BS-20) as chief (systems), IT wing, Arshad Nawaz Chheena (IRS/BS-20) as chief (revenue operations), IR-operations wing, Bushra Jaffar (IRS/BS-19) as chief (OPS) (DRM), reforms and modernisation wing, Mohammad Iqbal Khan (IRS/BS-19) as director (POS), directorate general of digital initiatives, and Usman Kokab as the focal person from Karandaz.

The project management team will oversee and manage the execution and implementation of the project, collaborating closely with all stakeholders for project coordination from inception to completion. It will ensure adherence to timelines, deliverables, and quality standards.