Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Monday that sweeping institutional reforms are underway across all sectors to root out corruption and address persistent transparency issues.
“All government institutions are working tirelessly to eliminate corruption and close gaps in transparency,” Shehbaz declared while leading a high-level meeting on Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reforms in Islamabad.
The prime minister instructed officials to hire internationally recognised audit firms for third-party validation of the ongoing FBR reforms, ensuring accountability and external credibility.
Shehbaz also reviewed the progress of the Faceless Customs Assessment System, a key project aimed at reducing human involvement in customs clearance. He expressed satisfaction with the system’s positive impact on revenue collection and the reduction in clearance times.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to reforms, Shehbaz said that recent economic indicators show the country is moving in the right direction.
During the meeting, officials briefed him on reforms by Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and announced the upcoming launch of a simplified digital tax return system. The new system will include options in Urdu and local languages to better serve the public.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, the FBR Chairman, and other senior officials.
Earlier, the prime minister had directed the urgent and effective implementation of FBR reforms, particularly focusing on digitising and automating the country’s tax system.
He emphasised the need to correct “70 years of mismanagement” in Pakistan’s tax infrastructure, assuring that honest taxpayers and businesses would be fully supported while tax evaders would face strict legal action.
Shehbaz also praised the FBR and its enforcement teams for recent gains in tax revenue, driven by the implementation of initiatives like the Faceless Customs Assessment System.
