Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif poses for a group photo with a delegation of FBR officers in Islamabad. PHOTO: APPLICATION
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated top officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for surpassing the historic revenue collection target of Rs 12,957 billion in the last fiscal year, and described the achievement as a major milestone in Pakistan’s economic journey and the result of sustained reforms, digitalization and institutional teamwork.
Chairing a meeting with top officials of the FBR at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister congratulated the officers individually and the entire FBR staff collectively for achieving the record revenue target for the financial year 2025-26, according to a press release.
The Prime Minister said the timely disbursement of nearly Rs 600 billion in tax refunds during the fiscal year had brought much-needed relief to the business community while supporting export growth. He expressed confidence that the FBR formations and officers on the ground would maintain the same level of commitment to achieve the government’s revenue target of over Rs 15,000 billion in the current financial year.
The Prime Minister also congratulated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Attorney General Mansoor Awan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal, members of the government’s economic team and FBR officials for their role in improving the performance of the institution.
He paid tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in curbing smuggling and ensuring security of FBR personnel. The Prime Minister also commended officers serving in remote areas, recognizing their dedication and sacrifices in enforcing revenue and customs laws.
Highlighting the government’s reform agenda, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the FBR’s record revenue collection was made possible due to reforms initiated over the last two and a half years, with a strong focus on digitalization, transparency and teamwork. He highlighted that he personally chairs the FBR’s performance review meetings twice a month, emphasizing that institutional reforms remain among the highest priorities of the government.
The Prime Minister said reputed officers had been posted in the field trainings of the FBR to strengthen integrity within the organization, reiterating that there was no place for corrupt elements within the revenue administration.
He asked FBR officials to prioritize taxpayer facilitation alongside revenue collection, stressing that broadening the tax base, improving transparency and improving services to taxpayers remained the central objectives of the reform agenda.
The Prime Minister further announced that the new operational model of the FBR would be based on a digital and anonymous tax administration system with minimal human intervention. He also led the formation of a high-level committee to recommend measures to improve the career progression and service structure of officers belonging to the Pakistan Customs Service and the Inland Revenue Service.
During the meeting, the FBR officers thanked the Prime Minister for his continued focus on the institution and appreciation of their performance. The delegation also briefed him on the performance of field training across the country.
According to the briefing, the Karachi Large Taxpayers Office collected Rs 528 billion in revenue in June 2026, while the Lahore Large Taxpayers Office generated Rs 261 billion in the same month. The officials also informed the meeting that customs duty collection at airports had increased by 21 percent over the past year.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, State Minister Bilal Azhar Kayani, Attorney General Mansoor Awan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and other senior government officials.
