PM Orders Swift Completion of Taxpayer Directory

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue to expedite the completion of the income and sales taxpayer directory, aimed at recognizing and honoring responsible taxpayers. He issued these directives while chairing a high-level meeting on FBR-related matters in Islamabad today (Tuesday).

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister remarked that responsible citizens who regularly pay taxes are the backbone of the national economy. He noted that acknowledging taxpayers and taking firm action against tax evaders would contribute significantly to broadening the tax base.

Shehbaz Sharif asked the FBR to foster a business-friendly environment and ensure the provision of all possible facilities to taxpayers. He also directed the hiring of professionals to identify tax evaders and recover dues from them. He stressed the importance of leveraging both FBR’s internal resources and private sector expertise to detect individuals and companies involved in tax evasion. He further advised launching a public awareness campaign regarding government measures against tax evasion.

The Prime Minister underscored the need to engage top international auditors for third-party reviews of misdeclaration and under-invoicing in customs clearance. He advocated for the continuation of these reviews to identify flaws in the system and enhance operational efficiency.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on various initiatives, including efforts to identify tax evaders, progress on the taxpayer directory, and revenue-enhancing measures undertaken by super auditors. It was told that work on the taxpayer directory is advancing rapidly, with the goal of formally recognizing income and sales tax contributors.

The meeting was updated that a scientific auditing framework has been developed for third-party evaluations of misdeclaration and under-invoicing in customs clearance. Under this system, super auditors were appointed to conduct comprehensive assessments of customs clearance and the risk management system. The insights gained from these reviews will be used to strengthen and refine the risk management framework.