ISLAMABAD, May 13 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to take strict action against individuals and sectors involved in tax evasion and called for urgent measures to broaden the tax base.
Chairing a high-level meeting on tax reforms and revenue enhancement, the prime minister emphasized that all those financially capable of paying taxes must be brought into the tax net.
He also ordered strict accountability of officials aiding tax evaders, according to a statement from the PM Office.
Praising the government’s economic team for its performance, the prime minister said the country is moving in the right direction to meet the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) targets for the current fiscal year.
He underscored that expanding the tax base remains a top government priority to ease the tax burden on the general public by eventually reducing their tax rates.
Shehbaz Sharif directed that digital monitoring of the cement sector and other key industries be completed by next month. He also urged provinces to work closely with federal authorities to boost tax collection from the tobacco sector.
The prime minister stressed the importance of pursuing pending tax cases efficiently to ensure recovery of public funds. “By the grace of Allah, the national economy is stable and progressing. Now, we must work together to build the country,” he stated.
During the briefing, officials noted that the full implementation of the Track and Trace System in cement plants has resulted in a significant boost to tax revenue. Similarly, in the sugar sector, tax revenue saw a 35% increase between November 2024 and April 2025 due to the same system.
It was further revealed that ongoing reforms in the FBR are projected to help achieve a tax revenue target equal to 10.6% of GDP.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, the FBR Chairman, and other senior officials.
