Tax Asaan Scheme – yet another fiasco

Dawn's commentary argues that the weak uptake of the Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme, a voluntary registration drive for traders, signals that it may be heading for failure. Latest data show that roughly 1,400 traders, including 150 new taxpayers, have submitted returns for the 2026 tax year through it. The writer notes that earlier registration efforts since the 1990s met a similar fate, yet new ones keep appearing without a proper review of what went wrong.

The piece traces the scheme's weak appeal to its design. A levy of one per cent on gross turnover, rather than on profit, can weigh heavily on small retailers with thin margins, while bigger traders may find it more favourable. The arrangement is also limited to this year, and major trader associations have stayed outside it. Traders already pay through deductions on power bills, mobile charges and some bank transfers, though these may not reflect real income.

The writer argues that the real fix lies in cutting reliance on cash, with the entire supply chain from imports to retail sales documented through electronic payments. The column cites a Rs3.5 billion subsidy the State Bank of Pakistan unveiled in September 2025 for Raast QR payments by merchants, covering the period until June 2026. It also flags the circulation of Rs5,000 notes as a factor that eases large cash transactions.