The Peshawar High Court has suspended coercive tax recovery measures, including factory and bank account attachments, and issued notice to the FBR after observing violations of due process and settled law.
The FBR, with support from FC North and Loralai Police, confiscated nine non-customs-paid vehicles and various smuggled goods valued at Rs121.6 million during a targeted enforcement operation in Rakhni.
The government announced that PIA’s privatization will take place on December 23, with tax incentives and cleared liabilities aimed at attracting investors. Bids from four consortiums are expected by the deadline.
The Federal Board of Revenue has put on hold the new property valuation tables for Islamabad following stakeholder concerns over inflated rates. The previous valuation regime will continue to apply until revised tables are notified or January 31, 2026.
PSW, in collaboration with FBR and Pakistan Customs, has brought SIDC under the post-payment regime, simplifying trade procedures, improving liquidity for businesses, and accelerating customs clearance.
The Federal Board of Revenue has allowed residents of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan to be included in the Active Taxpayers List, enabling them to enjoy filer tax rates on transactions in Pakistan, with safeguards in place to verify eligibility.
Despite clear instructions from the Islamabad High Court, the Federal Board of Revenue has reportedly refused to provide taxpayers access to order sheet entries in tax assessment cases, drawing criticism from legal experts and raising constitutional concerns.
Pakistan’s tax authorities report that almost 2.26 million of 5.9 million income tax returns for 2025 are nil-returns, revealing a persistent gap between declared income and actual wealth and underscoring challenges in enforcement and tax base expansion.
The IMF has revised Pakistan’s FBR revenue target for FY2025-26 to Rs. 13.98 trillion, down from Rs. 14.3 trillion, during its Second Review under the Extended Fund Facility. While acknowledging progress with a 12% tax-to-GDP ratio, the IMF noted structural weaknesses and slower economic activity. The FBR has launched audits, digital invoicing, POS expansion, and public awareness campaigns to boost revenue, with continued reforms critical for fiscal stability and increased development spending.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue to step up efforts to bridge a revenue shortfall of over Rs400 billion recorded in the first five months of the current fiscal year. Chairing a weekly review meeting, the premier instructed authorities to broaden the tax net, reduce customs clearance times through technology, curb smuggling and illegal cigarette production, and ensure timely sales tax refunds.