Save Our Pak
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are a positive step for improving the country’s tax system. He said the government must make sure that all actions to modernize the system are completed on time. He added that reaching the targets is a good sign, but more hard work is needed, as Reported By Save Our Pak News Channel on Wednesday.
A review meeting was held under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss ongoing FBR reforms. During the meeting, officials gave a detailed briefing about the FBR reforms, their results, and the targets of the previous financial year.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Cheema, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, FBR Chairman, and other senior officials.
Officials informed the meeting that due to strict enforcement and other reforms, Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio increased by a historic 1.5% in 2025 compared to 2024. The number of people filing tax returns also grew from 4.5 million in 2024 to more than 7.2 million by June 30, 2025.
The briefing also revealed that FBR’s new faceless customs clearance system has helped increase tax revenue. Soon, clearance time will be reduced from 52 hours to only 12 hours in the next three months. Officials also said that in the retail sector, tax collection increased by Rs. 455 billion by June 2025 compared to 2024. This happened because of the Point-of-Sale system, better integration of retailers with FBR, and strict enforcement.
A special system has also been introduced to review cases through video links, making quick decisions possible. Officials added that due to these reforms, the weighted average tariff on imports decreased by 2.16%, which will reduce the cost of raw materials and support the manufacturing industry.
The meeting was told that global experts’ suggestions will be included to make the tax system and the economy more digital. The government will also use existing data more effectively to record industries’ production stages with relevant institutions. FBR officials also shared proposals for more reforms in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the efforts of FBR officials and the team working on reforms. He ordered them to finalize clear targets and deadlines for upcoming plans by next week.
He said that digitization has played a big role in meeting tax goals, and now the government must make these reforms permanent. He also stressed the need for strict measures to control the informal economy and said FBR’s digital wing should be restructured with a complete action plan.
The Prime Minister highlighted that all stakeholders must be consulted, and their suggestions should be part of the reforms. He said that while implementing these reforms, the government will make sure business owners, traders, and taxpayers do not face unnecessary trouble.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said improving the tax system is important for increasing national revenue and reducing the burden of taxes on ordinary people.
