Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif poses for a group photo with a delegation of FBR officers in Islamabad. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised senior officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for surpassing the historic revenue collection target of Rs12.957 trillion during the last financial year, describing the achievement as an important milestone in Pakistan’s economic journey and the result of sustained reforms, digitization and institutional teamwork.
Chairing a meeting of senior FBR officers in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister congratulated the officials individually and the entire FBR workforce collectively for achieving the record revenue target for the financial year 2025-26, a press release said.
The prime minister said the timely disbursement of nearly Rs 600 billion in tax refunds during the financial year had provided much-needed relief to the business community while supporting export growth. He expressed confidence that FBR field formations and officers would maintain the same level of commitment to achieve the government’s revenue target of more than Rs 15 trillion. during the current financial year.
The Prime Minister also praised Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Justice Mansoor Awan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, Finance Minister Imdad Ullah Bosal, members of the government’s economic team and enhanced the role of the FBR office in the institution’s economic team.
He hailed Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the law enforcement agencies for their efforts to curb smuggling and ensure the safety of FBR personnel. The Prime Minister also praised officers serving in remote areas and acknowledged their commitment and sacrifices in enforcing tax and customs laws.
Highlighting the government’s reform agenda, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the FBR’s record revenue collection was made possible through reforms initiated over the last two-and-a-half years, with a strong focus on digitalisation, transparency and teamwork. He noted that he personally chaired review meetings on FBR performance twice every month, emphasizing that institutional reforms remained among the government’s top priorities.
The Prime Minister said that reputable officers had been posted in FBR field formations to strengthen the integrity of the organization and reiterated that there was no room for corrupt elements in the revenue department.
He directed FBR officials to prioritize tax relief alongside revenue collection and stressed that broadening the tax base, improving transparency and improving services to taxpayers remained key objectives of the reform programme.
The Prime Minister further announced that the FBR’s new operating model would be based on a digital, faceless tax administration system with minimal human intervention. He also led the formation of a high-level committee to recommend measures to improve the career path and service structure of officers belonging to the Pakistan Customs Service and the Inland Revenue Service.
During the meeting, the FBR officers thanked the Prime Minister for his continued focus on the institution and appreciation of their efforts. The delegation also briefed him on the performance of field formations across the country.
According to the briefing, Karachi Large Taxpayers Office collected Rs528 billion in revenue during June 2026, while Lahore Large Taxpayers Office generated Rs261 billion in the same month. Officials also informed the meeting that customs collection at airports had increased by 21 percent over the past year.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Foreign Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani, Justice Mansoor Awan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and other senior officials.
