Govt looks to scrap non-filer category

In a significant development, the government has agreed in principle to abolish the category of non-filers, mandating all individuals to route all transactions through banking channels to curb cash flows in the economy. “We must do away with the concept of non-filers. There is agreement to eliminate this idea,” FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial told the representatives of all main industries during a consultative meeting on the organisation’s planned transformation plan, on Tuesday. He said non-filing is a fraudulent method established domestically, adding that the FBR will generate additional data to assess individuals’ financial transactions. At the registrar’s office, property transactions will be categorised into two groups — eligible and ineligible.