Karachi, April 18, 2026 – Pakistan has repaid $2 billion in deposits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Saturday, as the country continues to meet its external debt obligations while managing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
(more…)Author: Shahnawaz Akhter
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FBR power to arrest traders reduced, Kayani confirms reform drive
KARACHI, April 18, 2026 – Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said on Saturday that the arrest powers of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials have been significantly curtailed as part of wider tax and regulatory reforms aimed at improving Pakistan’s business climate.
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FBR reports 163% surge in tax collection from petroleum products
Karachi, April 18, 2026 – Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said on Saturday that withholding income tax collection from petroleum products rose by 163% over the past five years, driven largely by higher fuel prices and increased consumption.
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Faisalabad Customs highlights benefits of Export Facilitation Scheme
Pakistan Customs officials on Friday said exporters are being extended the same facilitation at Faisalabad Dry Port as available in Karachi under the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), urging the business community to fully utilise the system to improve trade efficiency and competitiveness.
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Khurram Ijaz expresses concerns over rising electricity shortfall
KARACHI, April 17, 2026 — Khurram Ijaz, General Secretary of Businessmen Panel Progressive (BMPP) and former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has expressed serious concern over the growing electricity shortfall in the country, warning that it is not only making life difficult for the general public but also posing significant risks to industrial output and economic stability.
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Minister Kayani to hold key tax talks with Karachi business leaders
KARACHI, April 17, 2026 —Minister of State for Finance, Bilal Azhar Kayani, will hold a series of meetings with business leaders in Karachi over the weekend to discuss key taxation issues ahead of the federal budget for 2026–27, officials said on Friday.
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FBR probe exposes large-scale corruption in Pakistan Customs
Karachi, April 16, 2026 — A sweeping investigation by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has uncovered large-scale corruption within Pakistan Customs, resulting in strict disciplinary action against multiple officials, according to official notifications issued on Thursday.
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FBR imposes major penalty on customs officer over ‘living beyond means’ finding
ISLAMABAD, April 16, 2026 — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a major penalty of compulsory retirement on a Pakistan Customs intelligence officer after disciplinary proceedings concluded that he was living beyond his known sources of income, according to an official notification issued on Thursday.
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FBR issues new fair market values for Islamabad properties
ISLAMABAD, April 16, 2026 — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday issued revised fair market values for immovable properties in Islamabad, in a move aimed at tightening tax compliance and aligning property valuations with prevailing market rates.
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FBR forms committee to strengthen compliance risk framework
ISLAMABAD, April 16, 2026 — The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday constituted a technical committee to review and strengthen its Compliance Risk Management (CRM) framework, aiming to improve tax enforcement efficiency and detect high-risk cases more effectively.
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