ITO Section 53

Exemptions and tax concessions in the Second Schedule.

(1) The income or classes of income, or persons or classes of persons specified in the Second Schedule shall be :

• (a) exempt from tax under this Ordinance, subject to any conditions and to the extent specified therein;
• (b) subject to tax under this Ordinance at such rates, which are less than the rates specified in the First Schedule, as are specified therein;
• (c) allowed a reduction in tax liability under this Ordinance, subject to any conditions and to the extent specified therein; or
• (d) exempted from the operation of any provision of this Ordinance, subject to any conditions and to the extent specified therein. 

(2) The  [Federal Government or the]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ] [Board with the approval of the Federal Minister-in-charge may, from time to time, pursuant to the approval of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet] whenever circumstances exist to take immediate action for the purposes of national security, natural disaster, national food security in emergency situations, protection of national economic interests in situations arising out of abnormal fluctuation in international commodity prices, [ ]  [,] implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements [or granting an exemption from any tax imposed under this Ordinance including a reduction in the rate of tax imposed under this Ordinance or a reduction in tax liability under this Ordinance or an exemption from the operation of any provision of this Ordinance to any international financial institution or foreign Government owned financial institution operating under an agreement, memorandum of understanding or any other arrangement with the Government of Pakistan] , by notification in the official Gazette, make such amendment in the Second Schedule by —

• (a) adding any clause or condition therein;
• (b) omitting any clause or condition therein; or
• (c) making any change in any clause or condition therein, as the Government may think fit, and all such amendments shall have effect in respect of any tax year beginning on any date before or after the commencement of the financial year in which the notification is issued.

(3) The Federal Government shall place before the National Assembly all amendments made by it to the Second Schedule in a financial year. 

[“(4) Any notification issued under sub-section (2) after the commencement of the Finance Act, 2015, shall, if not earlier rescinded, stand rescinded on the expiry of the financial year in which it was issued [:] 

• [Provided that all such notifications, except those earlier rescinded, shall be deemed to have been in force with effect from the first day of July, 2016 and shall continue to be in force till the thirtieth day of June, 2018, if not earlier rescinded:
• Provided further that all notifications issued on or after the first day of July, 2016 and placed before the National Assembly as required under subsection (3) shall continue to remain in force till the thirtieth day of June, 2018, if not earlier rescinded by the Federal Government or the National Assembly.]