The visit of Abdul Wahid Uqaily, Chief Commissioner Regional Tax Office (RTO) - II, Karachi and Anees Ahmed, Deputy Chief Commissioner to the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industries (OICCI) on November 16, 2023, was marked by a productive conversation. They were warmly received by OICCI's CE/General Secretary M. Abdul Aleem and Executive Director Kashif Shafi. The meeting, held in a hybrid mode, brought together CFOs and Senior Taxation Executives from member companies.

The discussion centered on the support of organizations in contributing to the documentation of the economy and encouraging employees to fulfill their annual Income Tax returns. Chief Commissioner Uqaily highlighted to emphasize the need for collective efforts in this regard.

Abdul Aleem provided an overview of OICCI, underscoring that its members represent the largest bloc of foreign investors operating in Pakistan, setting examples of compliance. OICCI reiterated its commitment to supporting the documentation cause and echoed the FBR's objective of timely tax return submissions for the salaried class. Members raised concerns about Income tax refunds, unfair treatment of honest taxpayers, lack of awareness about the redressal process, and the tax burden on the salaried class.

Chief Commissioner Uqaily assured the members of addressing their concerns and extending due respect and assistance to salaried taxpayers. He proposed establishing a specialized cell at the RTO office to aid employees in filing their final tax returns and suggested companies to also encourage tax filings. Emphasizing digitization's efficiency, he advocated for its use to simplify tax compliance procedures and broaden the tax base through collaborative efforts.

He acknowledged the value of person-to-person engagement in efficient issue resolution and appreciated the assistance offered by OICCI members. The visit concluded with appreciation expressed by Abdul Wahid Uqaily for the members' time and active participation in highlighting their challenges.