Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the urgent need for the digitization of FBR and an enhanced enforcement mechanism during a high-level meeting aimed at reviewing the board’s operations. This meeting, held on Friday, underscored the government’s commitment to economic reforms in Pakistan, with the Prime Minister calling the FBR the “backbone of the national economy.”
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif directed the relevant authorities to devise a comprehensive strategy to bolster the FBR’s enforcement capabilities. He expressed appreciation for the FBR’s transformation plan, highlighting that improved tax receipts could significantly enhance service delivery and bolster the social sector. He called for a collaborative approach, urging consultations with prominent taxpayers and stakeholders to seek their approval for amendments, ensuring that the transformation plan is effectively implemented in coordination with other government departments.
Sharif reiterated the government’s priority to promote the private sector, emphasizing its critical role in strengthening the economy. He directed the implementation of third-party audits for FBR projects and urged accelerated efforts to combat smuggling activities that undermine tax revenue.
During the meeting, officials briefed the Prime Minister on the FBR transformation plan, which includes effective utilization of technology, performance-based rewards for efficient officers, and strengthened enforcement of taxation laws. This plan, developed by FBR officers and experts over the past 40 days, aims to ensure tax collection without hindering economic growth, while also facilitating compliant taxpayers. It also stipulates strict penalties for those failing to meet tax obligations or engaging in fraudulent activities, with such measures to be enforced after consultations with responsible taxpayers.
The meeting concluded with the approval of the FBR’s Home Grown Transformation Plan, which has been crafted based on the Prime Minister’s directives and extensive analysis of tax receipts over the past 25 years. The first phase of this plan includes deploying skilled officers to Karachi, the largest taxpayer unit in the country, which contributes 32 percent of the FBR’s revenue. These officers will be supported by auditors and other experts to ensure efficient operations.
Furthermore, the plan incorporates a reward system for top-performing officers and mandates that these officials possess professional degrees from reputable universities following their specialized training programs. In a bid to curb customs duty theft, a new appraisal and enforcement mechanism will be implemented, where inspectors will be monitored discreetly via surveillance cameras to ensure compliance and integrity.
To combat smuggling, a “carrot and stick” policy will be enforced for customs inspectors, with new checkpoints established in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organization (FWO). The meeting saw the participation of several federal ministers, including Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Dr. Musaddik Malik, along with key officials such as the Attorney General, the Governor of the State Bank, the FBR Chairman, and other senior representatives from relevant departments.
