RAWALPINDI: The Finance Minister, Mr N.M. Uguaili, today [Sept 15] announced the extension to September 30 of the deadline for filing Income Tax returns under the self-assessment procedure. In a recorded broadcast from Radio Pakistan this evening, the Minister said no further extension will be allowed beyond Sept 30 and advised the people to file their tax returns within the prescribed period.

The deadline for filing returns was to expire at midnight tonight, and Income Tax Offices all over the country were being kept open for this purpose till that time.

Mr Uguaili said all those persons who derived income from business, profession or vocation were eligible to avail of this facility, if their income for the year did not exceed Rs 25,000.

Others who derived at least 75 per cent of their total annual income from salaries, interest, houses, property and dividends, irrespective of the quantum of that, income, could also avail themselves of this facility, he said.

The Minister assured the people that cases like concealment of income would not be reopened without the prior approval of higher authorities.

`All concerned should therefore rest assured that there will be no arbitrary reopening of the assessments already completed under this procedure,` he added. Mr Uguaili said there was a `considerable amount` of arrears of tax demand which is outstanding against some big taxpayers, but these taxpayers were not cooperating with the Government. He said, `Our country needs every rupee of the revenues and the defaulters would do well to clear the arrears as early as possible.` Agencies [Meanwhile, as reporte d by agencies in Beirut, J Field Marshal Abdel H akim Amer, former Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Republic Armed Forces, who was arrested recently for allegedly plotting against President Nasser, has committed suicide, Cairo Radio reported [Sept 15]. A communiqué of the Ministry of National Guidance said he died after taking large quantities of poisonous products. Cairo Radio said he died despite doctors`efforts to save his life.