As part of its efforts to eliminate tax evasion, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to block cellphone SIM cards besides severing power connections of 1.8 million tax defaulters identified in the country so far, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

Sources told 24News that the FBR, in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), planned to block the SIM cards of all non-filers from next week in phases.

They disclosed that the arrangements were complete to block 500,000 SIM cards of those people who did not pay their taxes despite having large incomes.  

Furthermore, they revealed, with the cooperation of district tax officers, power connections of tax evaders would also be severed.

Sources told 24News that in this connection, rules had been framed on the instructions of the FBR chairman and sent to the concerned officers.

Reporter: Kaleem Akhtar