PM Shehbaz Orders Faster Enforcement to Meet Tax Collection Targets
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to accelerate enforcement measures to ensure the achievement of tax collection targets.
A weekly review meeting on ongoing FBR reforms was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. He directed the authorities to further speed up implementation of the reforms and welcomed the growing confidence of the business community in the tax reform process.
The prime minister instructed the FBR chairman and senior officials to spend two days every month in Lahore in addition to Karachi. He directed the FBR to intensify enforcement efforts to achieve the assigned revenue target and continue effective action against smuggling, tax evasion and illegal businesses.
Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the FBR’s action against illegal cigarette manufacturing units in Chakwal and Swabi. He also directed the appointment of honest and reputable officers and officials to all sensitive posts and departments within the FBR.
Faceless Inland Revenue System to Be Fully Rolled Out by 2027
The prime minister ordered the timely completion of the proposed faceless Inland Revenue system, directing that its full rollout be ensured by 2027.
The meeting was informed that the first phase of the faceless Inland Revenue system would become operational from October 1, 2026.
Based on artificial intelligence and modern technology, the faceless system is a key component of the FBR’s ongoing digitization reforms. It will include a National Faceless Audit Wing for tax return audits and a Faceless Assessment Unit for assessments.
Under the system, tax cases will be assigned randomly without regard to geographical jurisdiction, the meeting was informed.
Action Against Illegal Cigarette Factories
The FBR chairman briefed the prime minister on his monthly visits to Karachi during the first week of each month and meetings with representatives of the business community.
He said he had met representatives of seven major trade organizations in Karachi and listened to their concerns, with several issues being resolved during his stay.
He added that time-bound standard operating procedures (SOPs) were being issued for the payment of tax refunds to exporters.
The FBR chairman also briefed the meeting on an intelligence-based operation against an illegal cigarette factory in Chakwal. The factory was sealed, while illegal cigarette stocks and machinery were confiscated. A similar intelligence-based operation was also conducted against an illegal cigarette factory in Swabi.
Federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Dr Musadik Masood Malik, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad and senior officials of relevant institutions attended the meeting.
