Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to intensify efforts to expand Pakistan’s tax base using the latest technologies, aiming to improve economic indicators and reduce reliance on foreign debts.
According to Federal Board of Revenue, during his visit to the FBR headquarters, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the critical role of the FBR in Pakistan’s economic stability and growth. He outlined a vision to make the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) program the last one by broadening the tax net, particularly targeting those who have historically evaded taxes, while ensuring that honest taxpayers are not unduly burdened.
The Prime Minister’s directive includes leveraging artificial intelligence and other digital tools to enhance tax collection and compliance. He highlighted the success of FBR’s ongoing digital transformation, including the implementation of the Tajir Dost Mobile application which simplifies tax return processes. About 4,900,000 potential taxpayers have been identified through these technological initiatives, underscoring the importance of bringing them into the tax system swiftly.
Prime Minister Sharif also addressed the need for the FBR to be responsive to the business community’s needs, ensuring that tax policies facilitate rather than hinder business operations. He stressed the importance of immediate actions to resolve outstanding issues with key sectors like the flour milling industry.