Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that the reform process in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has led to improvement in the tax system, which is a welcome development, but there is still room for further progress. He emphasized that steps should be taken with full commitment, a defined timeline, and a clear strategy.
A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to review the ongoing reform process in the FBR. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Advisor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik, the FBR Chairman, and other relevant officials.
The Prime Minister was informed that due to recent reforms, the tax-to-GDP ratio has increased from 9.2% to 10.6%, marking a significant rise of 1.4%.
A detailed briefing was given on the restructuring of the FBR’s internal system, digitization, enforcement, and the performance of the faceless system. The Prime Minister directed that the enforcement mechanism be made more effective and the faceless system be expedited to enhance transparency and efficiency.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed that for the upcoming fiscal year, reforms should continue with clear objectives, set deadlines, and an effective strategy. He said that traders, industrialists, and other stakeholders should be taken into confidence to broaden the tax base.
The Prime Minister was also briefed that reforms are underway in areas such as IT, digital infrastructure, and the training of officers within the FBR. He appreciated these efforts and instructed that all measures be monitored directly by the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office.
