Islamabad :The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Constitutional Bench raised serious concerns on Wednesday regarding the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) procedure for implementing the controversial super tax on high-income sectors. During the hearing, the court questioned whether the government had engaged in any meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders prior to introducing the tax.
The bench pressed FBR officials to clarify the legal and procedural basis for the tax, which has faced criticism from the business community for its perceived lack of transparency and fairness.
Representing the FBR, the legal counsel argued that applying the super tax selectively to certain industries or groups would create an unconstitutional element of discrimination. She maintained that the tax needed to be broad-based to maintain equity within the taxation system.
Dr. Ishtiaq, appearing as a key expert in the case, explained to the court that the super tax is structured across various categories, each carrying a different rate, based on income thresholds and business sectors.
After detailed arguments, the court postponed the hearing until tomorrow, signaling that more scrutiny is expected in the coming session.
