PM directs FBR to prioritize business community's concerns

July 15, 2026 (MLN): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the business community formed the backbone of the national economy and should be extended every possible facility to enhance production and boost exports, directing the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to work closely with traders and industrialists to resolve their legitimate concerns on a priority basis.

The prime minister was chairing a meeting to review FBR affairs, attended by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, and other senior officials.

The prime minister instructed senior FBR officials to visit Karachi during the first week of every month to maintain direct engagement with the business community and ensure prompt resolution of their issues, APP reported.

He said he was confident that Pakistan's economy was on the path to stability, adding that the current year would be marked by economic growth and expansion of business activities.

Companies that comply with tax laws would be officially recognised and encouraged in appreciation of their contribution, he said.

The prime minister emphasised that the government's objective was to promote ease of doing business, encourage investment and exports, and make the tax system more transparent and simpler to strengthen the confidence of the business community.

The meeting was briefed on FBR's performance and the implementation of ongoing reforms.

It was informed that production monitoring systems had been installed in the sugar, cement, tobacco, tiles, and fertiliser industries, while installation in the textile and beverages sectors was currently underway.

According to the meeting, production monitoring in the sugar industry resulted in the collection of an additional Rs42bn in taxes during the past year, while the cement industry generated an additional Rs38bn in tax revenue over the same period.

Production monitoring in the beverages industry, meanwhile, yielded an additional Rs15bn in tax revenue during the past year.

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