Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday commended senior officers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for surpassing the historic revenue collection target of Rs12.957 trillion during the last fiscal year, describing the achievement as a major milestone in Pakistan's economic journey and the result of sustained reforms, digitisation, and institutional teamwork.
Record revenue and tax refunds
Chairing a meeting with senior FBR officers at the Prime Minister's Office, the prime minister congratulated the officers individually and the entire FBR workforce collectively for achieving the record revenue target for fiscal year 2025-26, according to a news release. He noted that the timely disbursement of nearly Rs600 billion in tax refunds during the fiscal year had provided much-needed relief to the business community while supporting export growth.
The prime minister expressed confidence that FBR field formations and officers would maintain the same level of commitment to achieve the government's revenue target of more than Rs15 trillion during the current fiscal year.
Recognition of key figures
The prime minister also commended 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 officers for their role in the institution's improved performance. He paid tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in curbing smuggling and ensuring the security of FBR personnel.
The prime minister also praised officers serving in remote areas, acknowledging their dedication and sacrifices in enforcing tax and customs laws.
Reform agenda and digitisation
Highlighting the government's reform agenda, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the FBR's record revenue collection was made possible through reforms initiated over the past two and a half years, with a strong focus on digitisation, transparency, and teamwork. He noted that he personally chaired review meetings on FBR performance twice every month, underscoring that institutional reforms remained among the government's highest priorities.
The prime minister said reputable officers had been posted in FBR field formations to strengthen integrity within the organisation, reiterating that there was no place for corrupt elements in the tax authority. He directed FBR officials to prioritise taxpayer facilitation alongside revenue collection, stressing that expanding the tax base, improving transparency, and enhancing services for taxpayers remained central objectives of the reform programme.
The prime minister further announced that the FBR's new operating model would be based on a digital, faceless tax administration system with minimal human intervention. He also directed the formation of a high-level committee to recommend measures for improving the career progression and service structure of officers belonging to the Pakistan Customs Service and Inland Revenue Service.
FBR officers' response and briefing
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 formations across the country. According to the briefing, the Karachi Large Taxpayers Office collected Rs528 billion in revenue during June 2026, while the Lahore Large Taxpayers Office generated Rs261 billion during the same month. Officials also informed the meeting that customs duty collection at airports had increased by 21 per cent over the past 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.
