Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a weekly performance review meeting of the Federal Board of Revenue on Friday, December 19, 2025. Photo: APP
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday praised the latest anti-smuggling efforts by the Pakistan Customs Service as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reported that curbs on smuggling of petroleum products had led to an 82 percent increase in revenue during the first five months of the current fiscal year, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
The prime minister’s remarks came during a weekly FBR performance review meeting where he praised enforcement measures and directed authorities to step up efforts against tax evasion and illicit trade, according to the prime minister’s office.
Officials briefed the meeting on progress in curbing smuggling and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. Noting that smuggling was causing billions of rupees in losses to the national exchequer, the prime minister said decisive action remained essential to protect the country’s economic interests.
Read: Pakistan sees January Panda Bond debut
He commended Pakistan Customs for successful operations and stated that effective enforcement had significantly reduced smuggling across key sectors. The prime minister described the results as encouraging, adding that goods that were previously smuggled were now being imported legally and integrated into the formal economy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz directed authorities to speed up efforts against tax evasion and reiterated that no leniency would be shown in cases of smuggling or tax evasion. He also directed provincial governments to extend full cooperation to the FBR, especially in legal cases targeting illegal petrol stations.
The meeting, attended by federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb and Ahad Khan Cheema, finance minister Bilal Azhar Kayani, FBR chairman and senior officials, was informed that an integrated customs enforcement system is now operational nationwide to prevent smuggling.
Also read: Dar accuses India of violating IWT as Chenab levels drop
Officials said petrol pumps across the country have been registered through the Rahguzar app, while legal proceedings against illegal outlets are underway. District administrations have been empowered under the new petroleum law to seize illegal machinery used at the unauthorized filling stations and a GPS-based tracking system has been enforced for oil transportation.
According to the briefing, measures taken between July and November 2025 have also curbed the smuggling of cigarettes, tires, clothing, electronics and other goods.
