Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take strict action against individuals and sectors involved in tax evasion.
The Prime Minister, who was chairman of a review meeting to extend the tax base and increase tax revenue on Tuesday, said individuals and sectors who are able to pay taxes must be brought into tax network, a press release issued by the PM office said.
He also called for strict accountability for officers and staff to help tax evasion. The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the government’s financial team for making quick progress towards achieving FBR’s revenue goals for the current financial year.
He reiterated that expanding the tax network is a top reign of government to reduce the tax burden for the ordinary man.
The Prime Minister ordered FBR to end the digital monitoring of the cement and other key sectors by next month. He also instructed that the efforts to increase tax revenue from the tobacco sector be accelerated in collaboration with the provinces.
He emphasized the need for effective persecution of pending tax related cases to ensure the recovery of public funds. “By the grace of Allah, the national economy is stable and moves towards growth,” he said.
During the briefing, it was revealed that the full implementation of the track and tracking system on cement plants nationwide had led to a significant increase in tax revenue.
With the implementation of this system in the sugar industry, tax revenue increased by 35% from November 2024 to April 2025. A tax revenue target corresponding to 10.6% of GDP is achieved as a result of FBR reforms.
Federal Ministers – Azam Nazeer Tarar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar – FBR chairman and senior officials attended the meeting.
Shehbaz was chairman of a review meeting on the construction of 15 new Danish schools and the Danish university, Shehbaz also instructed accelerated work on educational institutions.
He said that the establishment of these institutions across the country, for the provision of quality education to the deserving and radiant students, was among the highest priorities of the government.
The prime minister also asked for high quality construction work and their third -party validation.
He instructed the relevant authorities to install smart boards in all classrooms, establish digital libraries and ensure a credit -based and transparent appointment process for teaching staff.
He said that eligible local population should be prioritized during the appointment process and instructed a proposal for the establishment of the Danish authority.
During the meeting, an orientation was given about the Danish schools under the construction and the Danish University of Islamabad. 42 percent work at a Danish school in Islamabad had ended.
In Gilgit Baltistan, work at Danish schools in Sultan Abad, Ghande and Astore will be completed by June 30, 2026, while working with Bhimber and Bagh schools would also be completed in June 2026.
Feasibility and design of Danish schools in Sharda, Sibi, Musakhel and Zhob were completed. (With input from app)
