Global Experts to Help Design Integrated, Real-Time Tax Monitoring System
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the green light for the development of a comprehensive digital ecosystem within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), aiming to transform Pakistan’s tax system and bring the informal economy into the formal sector. Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on the progress of FBR reforms, the prime minister directed authorities to engage world-renowned experts in digital taxation to design a globally competitive and fully integrated system.
“Digitization alone isn’t sufficient. We must establish a complete digital ecosystem that tracks every stage of the economic process—from raw material procurement and imports to manufacturing and final sales,” the prime minister stated during the meeting.
The session was attended by several key officials, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Ministers Ahad Cheema and Bilal Azhar Kayani, FBR Chairman, and prominent economic experts, including Mosharraf Zaidi.
Real-Time Data to Enhance Tax Compliance and Policy Decision-Making
Officials briefed the prime minister on the vision for the new digital system, which will centralize FBR’s data infrastructure and enable real-time monitoring of transactions across all major sectors. This connected framework is expected to revolutionize how tax data is collected, analyzed, and used.
PM Shehbaz emphasized the need for this infrastructure to provide actionable insights into the movement of goods and financial flows, helping to detect tax evasion, streamline compliance, and support data-driven policy development. “The ultimate goal is to increase the tax base, formalize economic activity, and reduce the burden on ordinary citizens,” he added.
The premier expressed satisfaction with the current pace of FBR reforms, noting early signs of economic improvement. He reaffirmed his belief that a fully operational digital taxation system would be transformative for Pakistan’s revenue collection and overall economic governance.
