Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi on Saturday rejected the news regarding an extension in the date of the Asset Declaration Scheme, saying “no such option is under consideration”.

Earlier in the day, Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda had revealed that the deadline for the government’s asset declaration scheme “has been extended by four days”.

According to media reports, he further disclosed that the condition of keeping money in bank accounts as a guarantee to make a declaration had been quashed.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had deliberated upon extending the deadline of the asset declaration scheme and a decision in this regard was expected within the next 48 hours.

Speaking in a state television’s special transmission on the government’s declaration scheme, the PM had urged the nation to play its role in taking the country out of the debt spiral.

“People are afraid that their tax money would be utilised in the wrong way, as they don’t have faith in the workings of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR),” he had observed.

PM Khan had said in most advanced countries, people have faith in their governments as their money is spent on their own welfare. “We have to give this confidence to people in Pakistan too so that they (people) willingly pay their due taxes.”

On FBR, the premier had maintained that the corrupt ruling elite of the past had ruined the tax authority, adding that he, after the passage of the federal budget, would sit with FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi to take action the corrupt government officials.

“The business community will be given all-out help so that they could earn more money and subsequently pay more taxes to the government,” he stated.