Key Takeaways
- The Pakistan Medical Association has opposed the Federal Board of Revenue's proposed mandatory Point of Sale integration for doctors' clinics.
- The association warned that healthcare facilities could shut down if the tax authority does not withdraw its directive.
- A PMA delegation met with FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial to convey objections.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has rejected the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) proposed mandatory Point of Sale (POS) integration for doctors’ clinics, warning that healthcare facilities could shut down if the tax authority does not withdraw its directive.
In a statement following a meeting with FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro criticized the tax authorities' approach as rigid and warned of potential closures. He stated, 'The medical fraternity will have no option except to shut down healthcare facilities and seek other work if the FBR continues to impose this system and ignores judicial decisions.'
Under the notification issued by the FBR, several service providers, including medical facilities, are required to digitally integrate their operations with the tax system through electronic invoicing hardware and software. The move is aimed at improving documentation and widening the tax base.
The notified categories include restaurants, hotels, courier services, beauty salons, gyms, private schools and colleges, as well as clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and private hospitals. According to the FBR’s directive, no taxable supply or service can be made except through integrated outlets, with real-time electronic invoices and six-year record retention.
Dr Shoro argued that healthcare is an essential professional service, not a commercial retail activity, and treating clinics as retail outlets through mandatory POS integration is legally unjustified. He emphasized the need for flexibility in tax regulations to accommodate the unique nature of medical services.
The PMA delegation met with FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial to convey their objections. Dr Shoro stated that the medical community would have no option except to shut down healthcare facilities and seek other work if the FBR continued to impose the system and ignored judicial decisions.
The FBR’s directive has sparked concerns among healthcare providers, who fear it could disrupt essential services and lead to financial strain on already overburdened clinics. The PMA is urging the tax authorities to reconsider their approach and find a more flexible solution that does not compromise the quality of medical care.
'The medical fraternity will have no option except to shut down healthcare facilities and seek other work if the FBR continues to impose this system and ignores judicial decisions.'
Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, PMA Secretary General
