Lahore: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has once again requested the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Finance to provide information of all Pakistanis who have sought UAE Iqama (employment contract), under the country’s Residence by Investment scheme – a news source reported.
The FBR had already made similar requests in the past and, while the UAE authorities have previously provided details of people owning properties in the country, they have as yet failed to share the details of individuals seeking to obtain an Iqama.
The FBR letter sent to the UAE government highlighted the fact that the automatic exchange of information framework was conceived and implemented to aid the global fight against organised tax avoidance. It also noted that UAE authorities had made a commitment to provide a detailed formal response in a meeting held back in October.
It also noted that Pakistan’s requests for similar information had previously gone unanswered and unacknowledged. The letter further noted that, in case the UAE authorities continued to ignore the Pakistan government’s requests in this regard, the latter would be forced to take appropriate measures; which could include the termination of the ‘Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement’ between the two countries.
