Soon non-filers may not be able to travel abroad

The government is considering introducing a new law that will bar non-filers from traveling abroad.

The executive has already taken a number of steps in the past several months to bring non-filers into the tax nets, including disabling their mobile SIM and utility connections.

In May, the Federal Board of Revenue had announced its decision to block SIMs of some 5,000 non-filers to ensure effective compliance of Income Tax General Order No. 1, issued under Section 114 B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

Sources say authorities now intend to introduce a new ruling that would effectively bar persons who are liable to file their taxes but haven’t from traveling abroad. However, pilgrims, students and minors are likely to be exempted from the proposed initiative.