Islamabad, In a decisive move to modernize Pakistan’s tax system, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to immediately begin full digitization and automation processes. The directive, aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency within the country’s tax collection mechanism, was issued during a critical meeting on the economic situation and the FBR’s automation held in Islamabad.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister emphasized the adoption of the world’s best model for the digitization of the FBR. He further instructed the exploration of the best services available for this purpose and highlighted the importance of implementing a track and trace system to improve revenue collection and enforcement.
In addition to technological advancements, Prime Minister Sharif has called for merit-based recruitment of competent individuals to support the new digital initiatives. He also announced his personal oversight of efforts by the Ministry of Interior to combat smuggling, a significant drain on the national economy.
The meeting also focused on broader economic reforms, including substantial reductions in government expenditure. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the efforts of former Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, the Finance Secretary, and their team in laying the groundwork for these significant changes.
The Chairman of the FBR shared ambitious targets for expanding the tax base, with plans to bring an additional 1.5 million taxpayers into the system during the current financial year. He also mentioned legislative steps already taken towards digitizing invoicing, which the Prime Minister ordered to be implemented without delay.
This push towards digitization and automation by the Pakistani government signifies a major step forward in reforming the country’s economic infrastructure, aiming to foster a more efficient, transparent, and robust tax collection system that aligns with international standards.