PM Shehbaz urges FBR to revise revenue collection strategy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to reassess its approach to revenue collection in a bid to alleviate the country’s debt burden, according to a statement from the Information Ministry.

During a meeting held at the FBR headquarters in Islamabad, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of incorporating sectors currently outside the tax net. He stressed that these sectors must be integrated into the taxation system to ensure equitable revenue collection.

Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the ongoing digitization efforts within the FBR, promising that the process would be executed comprehensively and in a coordinated manner. He pledged full support to the FBR in acquiring advanced technology to enhance its efficiency.

Commending the FBR for achieving a 30 per cent increase in tax collection in the last financial year, the Prime Minister set a new target of thirteen trillion rupees for the current fiscal year.

He emphasized that this goal must be met without harassing traders and investors, advocating for a facilitative approach towards them. Tax collection, he clarified, should be strictly enforced where it is due.

In addition, Prime Minister Sharif praised the finance team for securing a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), expressing optimism that the IMF board would also grant its approval. He called for swift and diligent action to ensure that this programme is the last one Pakistan will need in its history.

The meeting reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing revenue collection and financial stability, with a focus on modernization and fairness in the tax system.

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