Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spearheaded a crucial meeting in Islamabad with the aim of revolutionizing tax administration, particularly within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The meeting, spanning four hours, delved into the progress of digitalization and reforms in both the Inland Revenue and Customs departments.
A key revelation was the uncovering of a staggering Rs 800 billion tax refund fraud over the past four months. Addressing this alarming issue, the meeting underscored the urgency of implementing robust systems to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future and to streamline the tax refund process.
Concerns were also raised about the substantial backlog of 83,589 tax cases awaiting resolution in various courts and tribunals. To tackle this, strategies were outlined to expedite these cases and enhance the effectiveness of tax appellate tribunals, particularly in matters related to customs.
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The government’s effective use of modern technology was a pivotal aspect, as it enabled the identification of two million potential taxpayers. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the prompt inclusion of these individuals into the tax system while ensuring that the burden does not disproportionately affect lower-income groups.
Looking forward, the Prime Minister directed the FBR to devise a comprehensive strategy for recovering illegal refunds and stressed the full digitalization of the Fraud Detection and Investigation Department. Furthermore, steps were initiated to consolidate all ongoing reform projects within FBR under a unified system, with a focus on rapid software development and implementation.
