Islamabad: The federal government is considering allowing property purchases of up to PKR 10 million without requiring buyers to disclose their source of income, a proposal that has sparked debate ahead of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) review mission expected by the end of February or early March.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, speaking to the media at the Parliament House, confirmed that the IMF has not yet officially communicated the dates for its review, but the government expects the mission to visit soon. A successful review would pave the way for the release of the next loan tranche of over $1 billion. However, Pakistan’s compliance with IMF conditions remains under scrutiny, with key concerns including tax collection from retailers, implementation of the agriculture income tax, and meeting the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) half-yearly revenue target.
Property Purchase Exemption Sparks Debate Amid these financial pressures, the government is facing demands from coalition partners and the business community to relax property tax disclosure rules. The proposal under consideration would exempt buyers from declaring their source of funds for property purchases up to PKR 10 million, with lobbying efforts pushing for an even higher exemption threshold of PKR 25 million for general transactions and PKR 50 million for first-time homebuyers.
The Association of Builders and Developers has argued that easing disclosure requirements would boost investment in the real estate sector. However, experts warn that such relaxations could facilitate the inflow of black money into the economy and raise concerns from the IMF regarding financial transparency.
FBR’s Stance & Legislative Proposals Dr. Najeeb Memon, Member Policy of the FBR, acknowledged that the board is considering the PKR 10 million exemption but has yet to reach a final decision. According to the original proposal pending before the National Assembly, buyers would only be allowed to purchase property worth up to 130% of their declared liquid assets from previous tax returns, with any excess amount requiring proof of income.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance has set up a sub-committee, chaired by Bilal Azhar Kayani, to recommend an appropriate exemption threshold. The sub-committee held its second meeting on Thursday, but discussions remained inconclusive.
Meanwhile, the FBR is working on a technological system to facilitate property transactions while ensuring compliance with tax regulations. However, Memon admitted that the system is still under development and lacks the efficiency needed for immediate implementation. The delay in establishing a secure filing mechanism raises concerns that buyers could be subject to discretionary scrutiny by tax authorities.
Concerns Over Liquid Assets & Gender Discrimination in Tax Rules The sub-committee has also proposed amendments to the definition of liquid assets, suggesting that gold, bonds, livestock, and other immovable property be included in the list of assets that buyers can use to justify their source of funds. Lawmakers have further objected to gender-based differences in tax treatment, specifically regarding the eligibility of dependent daughters versus dependent sons in property transactions.
IMF Review & Economic Implications As Pakistan prepares for its IMF review, any policy changes regarding tax exemptions will be closely scrutinized. Relaxing disclosure rules could stimulate real estate transactions but might also clash with IMF-mandated fiscal reforms aimed at curbing tax evasion. With the government under pressure to strike a balance between economic incentives and regulatory enforcement, the final decision on property purchase exemptions will likely have far-reaching consequences for both domestic investment and international financial credibility.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
