FBR Transfers Rs7 Million From Overseas Pakistani’s Bank Account Over Alleged Tax Default
ISLAMABAD: A dispute has emerged between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and a senior Pakistani banker based in Qatar after the tax authority allegedly withdrew funds from his bank account over an outstanding tax liability.
According to reports, Arslan Adam, a senior banking executive currently serving as Head of Operations at Doha Bank in Qatar, has written a formal complaint to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking intervention in the matter.
Arslan Adam stated that on June 23, 2026, his bank in Pakistan informed him that the FBR had classified him as a tax defaulter and directed the bank to transfer funds from his account. He claimed that the following day, United Bank Limited (UBL) transferred the entire balance of his account—approximately Rs7 million—to the FBR.
In his letter, Adam said he has been living abroad since 2002 and has worked for several international institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, KPMG, and ABN AMRO. He added that he has been regularly filing tax returns since the 2016–17 tax year.
According to his account, when the FBR questioned the source of his investments, he provided documentation showing that the funds originated from his overseas employment and remittances sent to Pakistan through formal banking channels. However, he alleged that the tax authority did not accept the evidence presented.
Adam further claimed that after withdrawing the funds from his account, the FBR is now attempting to initiate action against his property. He urged the prime minister to investigate the matter and arrange a full refund, arguing that such treatment of overseas Pakistanis could damage Pakistan’s image and discourage expatriates from investing in the country.
قطر میں مقیم پاکستانی شہری ارسلان آدم نے ایف بی آر کی جانب سے 2 کروڑ 26 لاکھ روپے نکالنے پر وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف اور فیلڈ مارشل کو خط لکھ دیا خط میں کہا گیا ہے کہ ایف بی آر کو بیرون ملک آمدن اور ملازمت کے ثبوت فراہم کیے مگر ایف بی آر نے ماننے سے انکار کردیا خط کو غور سے پڑھیں… pic.twitter.com/5SHGrZGf1R
— Waqas Azeem (@Waqas_Azeem) June 25, 2026
On the other hand, FBR officials maintain that the action was taken in accordance with the law. According to the tax authority, Arslan Adam was served with notices regarding unpaid taxes and is liable to pay Rs22.626 million in outstanding tax dues.
FBR officials stated that the recovery proceedings were carried out under applicable tax laws due to non-payment of the assessed tax liability.
The case has sparked debate over tax enforcement procedures and the treatment of overseas Pakistanis, with both sides presenting sharply differing versions of the dispute.
