Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a cash award of five million rupees to honor a senior officer of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for his role in thwarting a significant tax fraud attempt. The announcement came during a meeting with FBR officers in the capital.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister praised the efforts of FBR officers in uncovering a sales tax fraud scheme involving the misuse of an 80-year-old woman’s particulars. Officer Aijaz Hassan was credited with identifying the fraud in March, which initially involved the transfer of 370 million rupees. Efforts to recover the funds are ongoing, and the primary suspect has been apprehended.

Prime Minister Sharif commended the results of FBR’s reforms and its anti-tax fraud campaign, highlighting Officer Hassan’s timely intervention in a potential trillion-rupee fraud case. In addition to the cash reward, a shield was presented to Officer Hassan for his exemplary service.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need for thorough investigations and legal actions against those involved in tax fraud. He instructed the FBR to engage top legal experts to ensure the perpetrators and their accomplices face justice. Furthermore, he stressed that comprehensive digitization and ongoing reforms within the FBR are crucial to preventing future fraud cases. The government is prioritizing initiatives to expand the tax base, aiming to boost the nation’s economic development.