Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered robust measures to expand the country’s tax base and combat tax evasion, calling for increased scrutiny of individuals and sectors avoiding their fiscal responsibilities.
In a high-level meeting focused on revenue generation, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of including all eligible taxpayers in the system to create a fair and efficient taxation framework. He further directed officials to hold accountable any civil servants found complicit in aiding tax evasion.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office highlighted that Shehbaz Sharif commended the economic team’s performance, noting their contributions have contributed to steady progress in meeting the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) targets for the current fiscal year.
The Prime Minister reiterated that broadening the tax base is crucial to reducing the financial burden on ordinary citizens by enabling a reduction in tax rates. He specifically instructed authorities to complete digital monitoring of cement industry and other sectors by the end of next month.
Shehbaz Sharif also called for enhanced cooperation with provincial governments to increase tax collection from the tobacco sector, while urging concerned departments to expedite the resolution of pending tax cases to recover public funds more efficiently.
Expressing confidence in Pakistan’s economic trajectory, the Prime Minister remarked that the country’s economy remains stable and is steadily progressing towards sustainable growth, attributing this progress to the collective efforts of the nation.
During the meeting, officials revealed that the nationwide implementation of the Track and Trace System at cement plants had significantly boosted tax revenues. Additionally, the introduction of a similar system in the sugar sector saw a 35% increase in tax collections between November 2024 and April 2025.
Furthermore, officials noted that ongoing tax reforms at the FBR are expected to increase tax revenue to 10.6% of the country’s GDP.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, the FBR Chairman, and other senior government officials.
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