Aurangzeb says ‘no logic’ behind complicated salaried tax return form

Aurangzeb notes 'no logic' behind complicated salaried tax return form.

Key points

• Mr Aurangzeb was accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and representatives of traders at a news conference.
• FBR launches mobile app for Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for small traders Pakistan formally seeks US Exchange Stabilisation Backing Facility.
• He remarked negotiations with the United States were under way and Pakistan anticipated a response from the US Treasury or US Exim Bank by the end of September 2026.
• The newly introduced app contains a simplified form in Urdu and is available on the Google Play Store under the "Asaan Tajir" icon.
• Minister of State Bilal Azhar remarked the app would additionally be created available on Apple's App Store over the next few days.

Aurangzeb notes 'no logic' behind complicated salaried tax return form. Mubarak Zeb Khan Published August 20, 2026 Updated August 20, 2026 07: 16am. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday renewed his call for a simplified tax return form for salaried taxpayers, saying there was "no logic" behind the lengthy and cumbersome process at present applied to one of the country's most documented segments.

Notably, the minister created the remarks at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters during the launch of a mobile application for the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme, designed to enable small traders and shopkeepers to register and file their returns digitally.

"I do not see any logic for this complicated form, " the finance minister remarked, adding that even an MBA graduate would struggle to complete it.

He observed that around 70 per cent of salaried income was deposited directly into bank accounts after tax deductions, leaving little scope for further income streams to justify such a complicated filing process.

Notably, the newly introduced app contains a simplified form in Urdu and is available on the Google Play Store under the "Asaan Tajir" icon.

In practice, a payment slip identification number (PSID) will be generated during registration, enabling traders to pay their tax through the app.

After payment, users will be notified of their registration under the scheme and their updated tax filer status, along with information regarding the benefits available to them.

He remarked versions in other languages, including Pashto, Balochi and Sindhi, would be introduced by the first week of September.

Traders requiring assistance would additionally be able to approach designated focal offices and office-holders at Regional Tax Offices in each district, he continued.

Mr Azhar additionally displayed a physical green identification plate containing security features that would be issued to participating traders.

He remarked traders registering under the scheme by the tax-filing deadline would receive the plate free of cost. Its eventual cost was projected to be no more than Rs1, 500.

According to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, with the plate displayed, no FBR officer or official would enter the shop of a bona fide registered shopkeeper for routine tax matters.

He expressed hope that the scheme would generate a solid response in terms of both registration and revenue collection.

After which the administration worked on developing the application and identification plates, the scheme was confirmed ahead of the federal budget on June 5.

Speaking to the media, the finance minister additionally stated Pakistan had formally sought a US Exchange Stabilisation Backing Facility as part of efforts to strengthen the rupee, stabilise foreign exchange reserves and reduce reliance on repeated loan rollovers.

In practice, the request, documented to be for $10 billion, is aimed primarily at signalling confidence in Pakistan's currency and external-sector stability rather than serve as a conventional loan.

Mr Aurangzeb remarked Pakistan was additionally seeking to move towards debt maturities of five, seven and 10 years to reduce dependence on repeated bilateral rollovers.

Meanwhile, the administration was exploring options to extend the maturity of existing bilateral loans to as long as 10 years, he went on.

Mubarak Zeb Khan is a senior staff correspondent for Dawn, bringing over two decades of experience to his coverage of political economy, trade, taxation, and public finance. He is a former Innovation Journalism fellow at Stanford University and a Chevening Scholar. He tweets @mubarakzebdawn.

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