The minister revealed the plan while replying to questions from reporters at a discussion of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) in the capital.

Asked if the government would face any political problem in publishing such a list, Saifur ruled out such possibility. "Rather some of you may face problems," he told the reporters.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) sources said the NBR will soon submit a proposal to the government to enact a law in the next budget session under which a list of tax defaulters can be published.

Donors are also hammering on the NBR to take stringent measures to stop tax evasion.

Saifur yesterday also gave indications that in near future the government may have to increase the prices of petroleum again.

"There is a lot of justification to raise the price. International price of petroleum remains high," he told the ERF discussion.

"We have not yet decided at this stage whether we will increase the petroleum price. But at a point, we will have to adjust (the losses)."

Saifur noted that import of petroleum products at higher prices will cost the government an additional amount of $500 million this fiscal year.