PM Shehbaz commends ministers, officials over FBR's Rs34.5bn recovery

• PM calls for permanent tax reform and accountability.
• Advocates full digitalisation of FBR systems.
• Commends FBR team for record recovery in 24 hours.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended federal ministers and senior officials for the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) recent recovery of Rs34.5 billion in taxes while stressing the need to form a sustainable system on a permanent basis, and resolve decades of problems by working together.

Chairing a meeting on FBR performance upon his return from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the prime minister praised the coordinated efforts behind the recovery. 

He especially acknowledged the contributions of Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the PM Syed Tauqir Shah, Attorney General Mansoor Awan, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, Information Secretary Ambreen Jan, FBR Chairman Arshad Mehmood Langrial, Intelligence Bureau DG Fawad Asadullah Khan, FIA DG Jan Muhammad, and other relevant officers.

The PM emphasised that lasting solutions required collective resolve and a sustainable, institutional approach to governance and tax reform.

Shehbaz said he and the whole nation were thankful to them for attaining Rs34.5 billion for the national exchequer. 

The recovery of the amount within 24 hours after the decision was commendable, he said, adding these best results show that if there was hard work and dedication, then success was attainable. 

He said it was a historic achievement which was only made possible because of a hard-working team. The recovery of Rs34.5 billion was a good beginning and this was just the start of the journey, he added.

While appreciating the FBR chairman, he said a comprehensive legal structure should be formed for the recoveries of FBR on a permanent basis. He directed that a plan should be presented to ensure reforms in the Bureau and implementation of tax laws.

The prime minister said a plan should also be prepared for the betterment of manpower of the FBR. The system could be improved with 100% digitalisation, third-party validation and continuous monitoring, he added. 

He said full action should be initiated against those officers and personnel who were involved in any kind of misappropriation. Encouragement of officers and personnel who performed well should be ensured, he continued. 

He said, “If we have to change the destiny of Pakistan then we have to bring change in the system on a permanent basis. “We will make all efforts to save every penny of the people,” he remarked.

During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the pending cases in courts regarding taxes and the steps taken by the government team for the recovery of money through these cases. 

The FBR chairman informed the prime minister about the reforms of Bureau’s Directorate of Law, a digital algorithm for tax assessment, performance of tax officers and FBR’s overall reforms.