Pakistan PM orders FBR enforcement and warehouse audits

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to intensify enforcement against smuggling, tax evasion, and illegal business operations throughout Pakistan. During a review of FBR reforms, the Prime Minister called for the acceleration of digitization efforts, specifically the implementation of a Faceless System for Inland Revenue. This AI-driven system, intended for full rollout by 2027, will assign tax case jurisdictions randomly to remove geographical boundaries and include a National Faceless Audit Wing.

In a separate directive aimed at increasing oversight, the Prime Minister ordered an independent three-year third-party audit of customs bonded warehouses nationwide. This initiative includes physical stock verification to identify discrepancies in inventory and records. Sharif emphasized the need for strict adherence to customs regulations and instructed authorities to take legal action against any officials involved in irregularities or the misuse of the bonded warehouse system.