State Minister for Revenue Muhammad Hammad Azhar on Wednesday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to focus on the simplification of tax collection system and frame new laws in this regard. He was addressing a three-day International Conference on Taxation, 2019 at the Federal Board of Revenue in Lahore. Later, talking to the media, he said, “We will seek a special tax relief from the Parliament for the small retailers.” The minister said that no favour will be given in the recovery of the taxes. Holding PML-N government responsible for low tax collection, the minister said the past government left shortfall of Rs. 260bn for them. When asked about possible National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) with incarcerated prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the minister said, “PTI government is not in favour of any NRO.” Aleema Khan or whoever might be, the recovery will be made according to law of the land, said Hammad Azhar. Back in the month of December, last year, Hammad Azhar had said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was taking special measures to facilitate the taxpayers, improve tax procedures to ensure ease of doing business. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the minister said that the number of taxpayers in the country have increased by 30 per cent during a year, adding that so far 1,400,000 taxpayers have filed their tax returns. Published in Daily Times, February 7th 2019.