Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to hasten its digitization process and reform the tax system following the exposure of a significant tax refund fraud amounting to 800 billion rupees. The prime minister's directive came as part of efforts to enhance revenue collection and ensure equitable tax enforcement.

According to Zameen.Com, PM Shehbaz stressed the necessity of refining the tax refund mechanisms to prevent future frauds and improve overall revenue streams. He expressed disappointment over the delayed execution of various planned reforms within the FBR. Additionally, the prime minister outlined the recent advancements in addressing longstanding tax-related disputes, noting that 83,579 cases involving 3.2 trillion rupees are still pending in courts and tribunals.

The meeting unveiled that through the use of advanced technologies, the FBR has identified approximately 4.9 million individuals capable of paying taxes. The prime minister emphasized the importance of integrating these potential taxpayers into the system, aiming to alleviate the financial load on the economically disadvantaged sections of society.

Further initiatives discussed included the recent registration of 150,000 retailers using a mobile phone application developed to be trader-friendly, as well as the expansion of appellate tribunals from their current numbers to 100. These measures are intended to quicken the resolution of tax cases and improve the handling of customs disputes.

PM Shehbaz also mandated the complete digitization of the FBR's Fraud Detection and Investigation Department and stressed the unification of all ongoing reform projects under a singular strategic framework to ensure efficiency and transparency in tax collection and administration.