Islamabad, December 21, 2024 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has issued firm directives to authorities to bring tax defaulters into the tax net and enforce strict measures against non-compliance. Presiding over a high-level meeting on Saturday, the Prime Minister reviewed strategies aimed at enhancing revenue collection and bolstering the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
During the briefing, officials provided updates on the deployment and monitoring of video analytics systems in the sugar industry. Stressing the transformative role of technology, PM Shehbaz remarked, “Enhancing FBR’s efficiency through advanced technology is among the government’s top priorities.”
He highlighted that integrating video analytics in the sugar industry would significantly improve revenue collection, combat hoarding, and stabilize market prices. “Our foremost objective is to ensure an uninterrupted supply of sugar at affordable prices for the public,” he stated, directing authorities to closely monitor sugar stocks to maintain stability in the supply chain.
The Prime Minister also called for uncompromising action against tax evasion and under-reporting by sugar mills, reiterating that these measures are essential to securing billions of rupees in additional revenue for the national exchequer. He emphasized that digitization across the revenue collection system, particularly within the FBR, is critical for achieving fiscal sustainability.
In addition to addressing challenges in the sugar sector, PM Shehbaz instructed the rapid expansion of video analytics technology to the cement and tobacco industries. These steps, he noted, would further streamline revenue collection, enhance transparency, and curb illegal practices.
Shehbaz underscored the importance of expediting the digitization of the FBR’s value chain to maximize the system’s potential. He expressed confidence that such initiatives would lead to a more robust and transparent taxation framework, ultimately strengthening Pakistan’s economic foundations.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik, and other senior government officials. The attendees expressed their commitment to implementing the Prime Minister’s directives and ensuring the timely execution of revenue-enhancing strategies.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to take decisive actions against tax evasion while leveraging technology to modernize the revenue collection process and support the country’s economic growth.