The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance has deferred debate on mobile phone taxes, with members warning that high levies imposed by the FBR and enforced through PTA systems are pushing users toward grey channels. Concerns were raised over double taxation on overseas Pakistanis and the rising burden on local consumers.
The Punjab Revenue Authority has announced a significant reshuffle of senior officers, appointing Fakhr-ul-Islam Dogar as Commissioner PRA Multan and transferring Aftab Ahmed to Faisalabad as Additional Commissioner Enforcement-I. The notification also grants additional charges to Muhammad Ansar, Tahira Akram, and Ayesha Ranjha as part of the latest administrative changes.
Customs Enforcement Karachi has foiled a major tax-evasion attempt involving undervalued auto parts and laptops, preventing a Rs167 million revenue loss. Goods worth Rs193 million were seized, and FBR has initiated legal proceedings against the importer and facilitators.
The Federal Board of Revenue has withdrawn the 0.25% Export Development Surcharge on all export goods with immediate effect, according to a new S.R.O. issued on Tuesday. Experts say the exemption marks a key policy shift to support Pakistan’s export competitiveness.
The Federal Board of Revenue has introduced a new order to tighten oversight of concessional imports for FATA and PATA industrial units. Imports of machinery, equipment, and raw materials must now be cleared via Azakhel Dry Port under monitoring and bonded carrier rules, ensuring transparency and compliance.
President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Zafarul Haq Hijazi as the new Federal Tax Ombudsman. The FTO provides a fast and independent mechanism for taxpayers to challenge maladministration by agencies like the FBR, with powers to investigate, stay orders, and recommend corrective action.
The Auditor General of Pakistan has flagged major lapses by FBR officers in Lahore and Islamabad, where failure to assess concealed assets and enforce return filing led to a revenue loss of Rs930.08 million. Audit findings show widespread non-declaration of property investments and underreported income, with no departmental response to the observations.
The Pakistan Medical Association has condemned the Federal Board of Revenue’s decision to audit doctors alongside beauty salons and aesthetic clinics, calling the comparison inappropriate and harmful. As the FBR launches a tax scrutiny campaign targeting high-fee practitioners and luxury beauty businesses in major cities, the PMA warns that aggressive enforcement could further limit access to essential healthcare, especially for low-income communities.
The Federal Board of Revenue has reinstated senior auditor Altaf Hussain Khurho after scaling back his dismissal in a Rs238.42 billion tax fraud case. While charges of inefficiency were upheld, the Appellate Authority noted his substantial role in blocking fraudulent input tax and recovering millions, prompting a reduction of the penalty to withholding promotion for three years.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has yet to act on a critical FTO recommendation, upheld by President Asif Ali Zardari, to establish a team of sales tax and IT experts to combat fake and flying invoices. The delay continues to fuel massive revenue leakages and undermines public trust in governance.