The prime minister chaired a high-level review meeting on the ongoing reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and reviewed in detail the government’s ongoing measures aimed at modernising the tax system and increasing revenue collection. A comprehensive plan was presented to make Inland Revenue collections more efficient, transparent and completely faceless, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.

Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said that the proposed automated tax management system, based on the effective use of modern technology, would prove to be a milestone in the government’s reform agenda. He stressed that minimising human intervention and discretionary powers in tax collection was the need of the hour to ensure transparency and improve public trust.

“The implementation of this system will not only enhance tax revenues but will also promote transparency, fairness and confidence in the tax regime,” the prime minister said.

PM Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing the FBR reform process to document the economy and expand the tax net. He directed that the pilot phase of the proposed automated income tax collection system be launched from Islamabad before its wider implementation.

The meeting was informed that the new tax system would have the capability to identify under-reported income and hidden assets by integrating and analysing data related to properties, vehicles and banking transactions. Officials said that modern technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), would be utilised to make the tax administration system more automated, transparent and efficient.

According to the briefing, the proposed framework includes the establishment of a National Faceless Audit Wing, a National Assessment Wing and a Field Operations Wing to improve efficiency and strengthen compliance mechanisms.

The prime minister also appreciated the efforts of provincial governments against the illegal cigarette trade. Officials informed the meeting that enforcement measures in the tobacco sector were expected to generate an additional Rs40 billion in tax revenues for the national exchequer during the current fiscal year.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Musadik Masood Malik, Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar and senior government officials.