Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has mandated the immediate operationalization of the track and trace system across key sectors including tobacco, cement, sugar, and fertilizer industries, as a strategic move to curb tax evasion. This directive was issued during a high-level meeting held in Islamabad, where the Prime Minister also announced the formation of an inquiry committee to identify and resolve any impediments to the system’s full activation.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the committee is tasked with pinpointing the hurdles within seven days, identifying individuals facilitating tax evasion, and proposing a strategy for the integration of an automatic tax system within factories. The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of removing all legal barriers to ensure the smooth implementation of the track and trace system, along with the immediate sealing of factories that fail to comply.

In his statement, Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of the track and trace system not only for enhancing revenue collection but also for combating the sale of counterfeit and substandard products. He specifically highlighted the issue of illegal cigarettes, instructing that such products be confiscated and destroyed to protect the national economy from illicit trade practices.

The meeting also included a comprehensive review of the current status of the automated tax system and its deployment challenges in the specified industries. Attendees were informed that the track and trace system is already fully operational in 14 major tobacco factories, with 12 others sealed for non-compliance. Additionally, it was reported that the system has been successfully implemented across all fertilizer industries.

This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance fiscal transparency and efficiency, as well as to protect the national exchequer from economic sabotage by vested interests. The Prime Minister’s directive to engage internationally recognized organizations for the track and trace system further demonstrates Pakistan’s resolve to align with global best practices in tax administration.