Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif Directs Implementation of Simplified Tax System for Common People

Islamabad:Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has issued special instructions for the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the tax system, and major tax reforms. He emphasized the importance of making tax returns simple, easily understandable, and available in Urdu, while also instructing the establishment of a helpdesk to assist people in filing their taxes.
Chairing the weekly performance review meeting of FBR in Islamabad, the Prime Minister stated that the new simplified and digital tax returns would greatly benefit salaried individuals. He further directed that a public awareness campaign be launched to educate people about the new system, ensuring that a larger number of citizens can submit their returns under the revamped framework.
The Prime Minister stressed that third-party validation should be ensured for transparency in tax reforms. He added that the government’s top priority is to expand the tax base while reducing the tax burden on the common people.
During the meeting, it was informed that the new tax returns would be introduced for salaried individuals starting July 15 and for other sectors by July 30. Tax returns in Urdu will be available from July 30.
The meeting also reviewed progress on digital invoicing, e-billing, the Central Command and Control Center, and the cargo tracking system. It was shared that under the digital invoicing system, 20,000 businesses will be connected to the FBR system in the coming months. In just one month, 8,000 invoices have recorded transactions worth 11.6 billion rupees.
The Prime Minister directed that the Urdu version of digital invoicing be launched immediately so that small and medium businesses can benefit from it. The system will ensure that all sales receipts are linked to the FBR, and tax returns will be automatically updated.
Referring to the use of Artificial Intelligence in the tax assessment system, the Prime Minister termed it a major achievement in the country’s history, which will significantly enhance tax enforcement. Additionally, traders will be provided with the facility to pre-fill goods declarations, enabling immediate delivery to factories after shipment.
The meeting also highlighted the involvement of Turkey’s technical assistance in the development of the cargo tracking and e-billing systems, which will be launched in Pakistan soon.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif praised the efforts of the FBR team, the Finance Minister, and other relevant officials, stating that the ongoing tax reforms are restoring financial discipline and public trust in the country.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ministers Ahad Cheema, Ata Tarar, Ali Pervez Malik, State Minister Bilal Azhar Kiani, Masharaf Zaidi, FBR Chairman, and other senior officials.