APTMA, FBR Clash Over Surveillance Camera Installation in Textile Mills

LAHORE: A dispute has intensified between textile mill owners and Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over the installation of surveillance cameras in industrial units.

According to sources within the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), the FBR had directed textile mill owners to install security cameras at their own expense as part of efforts to curb tax evasion. However, mill owners have refused to bear the cost.

APTMA representatives said that in response to the directive, textile mill owners have warned of shutting down factories if they are forced to install the cameras under the current conditions.

They argued that the cost of the surveillance system amounts to millions of rupees, which the industry cannot afford, especially amid rising production expenses and economic pressures.

Mill owners maintained that if the FBR requires monitoring through cameras, then the authority itself should bear the cost, similar to public surveillance systems where expenses are not passed on to citizens.

They further stated that such monitoring should not be limited to textile mills alone, suggesting that ginning and spinning units should also be included in the system, as they number more than 1,200 compared to around 180 textile mills, and could contribute significantly to tax revenues.

The FBR has not yet issued an official response regarding the latest remarks from the industry body.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Pakistan’s tax authorities and industrial stakeholders over enforcement measures aimed at improving tax compliance and monitoring production activity.