Cohort 1

Cohort 1

Workshop: “Capacity Building for NPO Tax Exemptions”
September 13-15 2004; Karachi

NGO Resource Centre conducted a three-day workshop on “Capacity Building for NPO Tax Exemptions” on September 13-15, 2004, at Sheraton Hotel, Karachi. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Qadeer Baig (Coordinator IMCP), Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed (P.O. Certification), and Sabahat Saeed Khan (I.T. Specialist).

The overarching objective of the workshop was to enhance capacity of the IMCP partner NPOs to understand the fiscal framework under which they operate and the procedures through which they can obtain tax exemptions from the Central Board of Revenue.

The expected learning outcomes of the workshop were:-

I. Describe the broad national frame work within which they are operating.

II. Differentiate between Type A and Type B Tax Exemption, and their respective benefits.

III. Explain the requirements/ parameters to be met before applying to Commissioner of Income Tax / CBR for Tax Exempt status approval.

IV. Learn to fill out the forms of both types of Tax Exempt Status approvals without the assistance of a lawyer.

V. Recognize their general responsibilities under the tax system like filing of returns and other statements under the withholding tax system.

VI. Demonstrate an understanding of the follow up process for and get the tax exempt status approval for Certification agency PCP/Commissioner Income Tax /CBR.

A total of 26 participants from 17 different organizations attended this workshop. The participant-mix comprised of 20 men and 6 women, representing mainly senior-management cadres involved with the decision-making process of running these organizations. List of participants is as follows: -

Mr. Younus Bandhani (Baanhn Beli), Mr. Moazzam Tanveer Shaikh (Baanhn Beli), Ms. Shohrat Khatoon (Basic Urban Services Katchi Abadies), Mr. Abdul Waheed (Bright Educational Society), Mr. Noor-ul-Amin (Basic Urban Services for Katchi Abadies), Mr. Yaqub Arshad (Catholic Social Services), Mr. Naseer Gill (Catholic Social Services), Mr. Reaz Ahmed (Faran educational Society), Mr. Abu Zafar (Faran educational Society), Dr. Mobina Agboatwalla (Health Oriented Preventive Society), Mr. Shahid Hussain (Health Oriented Preventive Society), Mr. Abdul Rahim Moosvi (Lyari Community Development Project), Mr. Zulfiqar Sial (Lyari Community Development Project), Mrs. Tauseef Anwar (Mufad-e-Niswan), Mr. Aijaz Ali (Mufad-e-Niswan), Dr. Saleem Azam (Pakistan Society), Mr. Azhar Hussain Magsi (Pakistan Society), Mr. Awais Aslam Ali (Pakistan Press Foundation), Mr. Raza Abbas (Pakistan Press foundation), Mr. Arif Sardar (Pakistan Aids and Prevention Society), Mr. Atique-ur-Rehman (Pakistan Aids and Prevention Society), Mr. Francis Rufi Sardar (Research and Social Training Institute), Mr. Wali Haider (Roots for Equity), Mr. Adnan Ali (Roots for Equity), Ms. Amber Alibhai (Shehei-CBE), Mr. Sarwar Khalid (Seheri-CBE), Ms. Aisha Rahim (Takhleeq Foundation), Mr. Azher Ali Khan (Takhleeq Foundation), Dr. Abdul Bari Awan (War Against Rape), Ms. Zahida Kiran (War Against rape). Ms. Oofi Khan (Al-Mehrab Tibbi Imdad).

The participants showed great interest in getting certification from PCP and Tax Exemptions from the CBR.