Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to ensure transparency and accountability in its ongoing reform programme, including through a third-party audit.
Chairing a meeting to review progress on FBR reforms, the prime minister stressed the need to make the process transparent, effective and sustainable. Officials briefed the meeting that digitalisation, production monitoring and automated systems were key components of the reform agenda.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz instructed the relevant authorities to complete the reforms within the prescribed timelines and strengthen action against tax evasion, smuggling and illegal businesses.
He said the reforms should focus on modernising and strengthening the tax system, improving revenue collection and eliminating smuggling.
Officials provided updates on several initiatives, including the restructuring of PRAL, digital transformation of the tax system and measures aimed at curbing smuggling.
The meeting was informed that work was progressing on IRIS 3.0, a new tax operating model and a central data hub aimed at creating a modern, integrated and data-driven taxation system. International consultants have also been engaged to help design IRIS 3.0.
Officials said a project under IRIS 3.0 was also being developed to improve tax administration, introduce automated taxation on a pilot basis and eventually use artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance revenue collection.
