Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to focus on tax recovery from the big tax evaders and bring the non-filers into the tax net. He was chairing a meeting regarding reforms in FBR at Prime Minister Office. Minister for Finance Asad Umar, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar, FBR Chairman Jahanzaib Khan and other high officials attended the meeting, a press release said. The FBR chairman briefed the prime minister about the progress on the steps taken to detect offshore assets of Pakistani citizens and the recovery of taxes under the country’s laws. Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said the ongoing reforms in the FBR were a part of the reforms agenda of the government. He regretted that the previous governments had ignored removing the weaknesses in the tax system and increasing the tax base altogether. A country where thirty percent of the country’s budget was being spent on payment of interest on loans, ignoring loopholes in the present tax system was a criminal negligence, he added. He observed that in the past, due to harassment caused to public and business community, complicated system of tax recovery, corruption and spending of tax money on the lavish lifestyle of the rulers, the ordinary citizens had lost their trust in the system and FBR. He stressed upon restoration of such trust. About Benami assets, the prime minister directed for early completion of rules under the relevant legal provisions. Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized upon paying special attention to the skill development of the youth in the country while keeping in view the requirements of the local and international markets. The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting on the issues pertaining to the textile sector. The meeting was attended by Advisor to PM on Commerce, Textile and Industry Production Abdul Razak Dawood, Secretary Textile Division Iftikhar Babar and other senior officials, PM Office media wing in a press release said. The Prime Minister assured that the federal government would extend all possible support for the revival of the textile sector. He noted that for the stability and improvement of the national economy, special attention should be focused on the wealth creation and skill development for the creation of job opportunities. The Secretary Textile Division briefed the Prime Minister about different issues related to the textile sector, especially to the Lahore Garments City, Karachi Garments City and Pakistan Textile City Limited etc. He also briefed the Prime Minister about the proposed skills development programme under which about 120,000 youngsters could be imparted skills training in the next five years. Tribute to polio workers-Prime Minister Imran Khan paid tribute to the polio workers, who braced snowy harsh weather to perform their duties, vaccinating children against the crippling disease. PM Imran met with the brave polio worker Irfanullah and others. During the meeting the prime minister discussed strategies to keep the scourge of polio at bay. Polio worker Irfanullah’s picture emerged recently, in which he was seen struggling to walk in knee-deep snow to perform his duty in Swat. The picture gained wide recognition on social media, where people praised the man’s determination and commitment to his work. Later, Sr Representative Pepsi USA Mehmood Khan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here at the PM Office. Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood was also present in the meeting. Meanwhile, Member National Assembly Malik Muhmmad Ehsan Ullah Tiwana also called on the prime minister here at the PM Office in a separate meeting. Published in Daily Times, January 31st 2019.