PM wants closer contact between FBR, business community

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stepped up his push to bring the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) leadership into closer contact with the business community, directing its chairman and senior officials to spend two days every month in Lahore, similar to the two-day monthly visits to Karachi.

The prime minister issued the directives while chairing a review meeting on ongoing FBR reforms and called for their accelerated implementation to achieve the prescribed revenue target.

In a bid to weed out corrupt elements from the top tax-collecting body, he also directed the FBR to ensure that officers and personnel of good repute and integrity were appointed to all sensitive posts and departments.

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He called for the timely completion of the proposed faceless system for Inland Revenue and directed that its complete rollout be ensured by 2027.

In a briefing, officials told the meeting that the first phase of the faceless Inland Revenue system would become operational from October 1, 2026.

The AI- and advanced technology-based system, a key component of the FBR’s recent digitisation reforms, includes a National Faceless Audit Wing for auditing tax returns and a Faceless Assessment Unit for tax assessments, officials said.

Under the system, they added, jurisdiction over tax cases would be assigned randomly, irrespective of geographical boundaries.

FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial briefed the prime minister on his stay in Karachi during the first week of each month, in accordance with the prime minister’s directives, and his meetings with the business community.

“I met representatives of seven major trade organisations in Karachi and listened to their concerns,” he told the meeting.

Langrial said issues faced by the business community during his Karachi visit were resolved promptly.

He added that time-bound standard operating procedures (SOPs) were being issued for tax refunds to exporters.

The meeting was also informed about the recent intelligence-based operations against illegal cigarette factories in Chakwal and Swabi.

Officials said the Chakwal factory had been sealed, while stocks of illegal cigarettes and machinery were confiscated.

The prime minister directed the FBR to continue effective action against smuggling, tax evasion and illegal businesses, and appreciated its operations against illegal cigarette manufacturing factories in Chakwal and Swabi.

He said the government welcomed the growing confidence of the business community in the ongoing tax reforms.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister AttaullahTarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)Governor Jameel Ahmad and senior officials of the relevant institutions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026