ISLAMABAD – PM Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the Government is making very effort to bring in new institutional reforms to curb corruption and address the issues of transparency. He made these comments while chairing a high-level meeting on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Islamabad.
The premier reiterated the need to engage with internationally recognized audit firms for validation of reforms to ensure plausibility within the FBR. PM Sharif reviewed other key initiatives, such as the Faceless Customs Assessment System, to minimise the need for human interference in customs processes. He was delighted by the improvement of revenue collection and reduced clearance times.
The Prime Minister was briefed on issues related to Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) reforms. He announced a digital tax return system, which it yet to be introduced, it will include features in Urdu and other local languages in order to assist the general public.
The notable members in the meeting includes the Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, the FBR Chairman, and other senior officials.
Prime Minister Shehbaz had previously emphasized the need for digitalization and automation of the tax system. He ordered the effective implementation of ongoing reforms within the FBR.
He called to rectify what he called “70 years of mismanagement” in Pakistan’s tax infrastructure. He emphasized that honest business owners and taxpayers will be fully supported, but those who are involved in tax evasion will have to face serious charges.
Shehbaz lauded the FBR for their recent efforts in improving tax revenue and the rollout of systems such as the Faceless Customs Assessment System.
