Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving its highest-ever annual tax collection, saying the institution’s record revenue of Rs12.957 trillion during the 2025-26 fiscal year reflected the success of the government’s reform agenda and the dedication of tax officials across the country.
Chairing a meeting with senior FBR officials at the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the board’s leadership and employees for surpassing the annual revenue target. He described the achievement as a major boost for Pakistan’s economy, attributing it to sustained reforms, digitalisation and coordinated efforts by the government and the tax authority.
The prime minister said the record collection demonstrated the professionalism and commitment of FBR officers serving nationwide. He also highlighted that nearly Rs600 billion in tax refunds had been disbursed on schedule during the previous fiscal year, providing liquidity to businesses and supporting the country’s export sector.
Expressing confidence in the institution’s future performance, Shehbaz Sharif said FBR officials would continue their efforts to achieve the government’s ambitious revenue target of more than Rs15 trillion in the current fiscal year.
The premier acknowledged the contributions of 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 strengthening the country’s tax administration.
He also paid tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies for their role in curbing smuggling and ensuring security for FBR officials performing their duties. Shehbaz Sharif further recognised officers serving in remote and difficult areas, commending their commitment to enforcing tax and customs laws under challenging conditions.
Highlighting the government’s reform programme, the prime minister said the record-breaking tax collection was the outcome of measures implemented over the past two and a half years, particularly initiatives focused on digital transformation, greater transparency and improved institutional coordination.
He noted that he personally chaired performance review meetings on FBR affairs twice each month, underscoring the government’s close oversight of tax reforms and revenue collection.
Shehbaz Sharif also said officers with strong professional credentials had been posted to key field formations to strengthen accountability within the organisation, reiterating that there would be zero tolerance for corruption in the tax system.
He directed FBR officials to strike a balance between meeting revenue targets and facilitating taxpayers, emphasising that expanding the tax base, improving transparency and enhancing public service delivery remained central to the government’s economic strategy.
The prime minister further announced that the FBR would continue its transition towards a modern, digital and faceless tax administration system aimed at reducing direct interaction between taxpayers and officials. He also ordered the formation of a high-level committee to recommend improvements to the career progression and service structure of officers serving in the Pakistan Customs Service and Inland Revenue Service.
During the meeting, FBR officials thanked the prime minister for his continued support and recognition of their performance. They also presented a briefing on revenue collection across the country’s tax offices.
According to the briefing, the Karachi Large Taxpayers Office collected Rs528 billion in June 2026, while the Lahore Large Taxpayers Office generated Rs261 billion during the same period. Officials further informed the meeting that customs duty collection at airports had increased by 21 per cent compared to the previous year.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Attorney General Mansoor Awan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and other senior government officials.
