On Friday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the launch of the 'Asaan Scheme', a fixed tax rate initiative designed for small shop owners in Pakistan. This scheme targets businesses with annual earnings of up to Rs200 million, imposing a 1% fixed tax on their net income. The government aims to broaden the tax base and create a more equitable tax system. Shop owners can enroll through a form available in various local languages. Those who opt-in will receive a Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) plaque featuring a unique QR code, which will facilitate tax inspections and audits by tax officials. The scheme is open to both non-filers and filers, with specific conditions for filers regarding their business turnover over the past three years. Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasized that this initiative is not a tax amnesty but a facilitation scheme, aimed at simplifying the tax process for the estimated three to four million small shop owners in Pakistan. The government has consulted with local traders’ associations to align the scheme with their needs.