33,522 tax cases involving Rs4.7tr pending in courts

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the relevant authorities to expedite the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) legal steps being taken to ensure early conclusion of the under-trial cases of tax revenues.

Chairing a review meeting on expediting FBR’s legal cases, the prime minister instructed to hire services of reputed lawyers to represent the revenue collector in cases of tax revenues.

The meeting was also informed that currently, 33,522 cases involving Rs4.7 trillion were pending in various courts and tribunals across the country.

The prime minister said the government was speedily implementing reforms in the FBR system. “By the grace of Allah Almighty, the positive results of reforms in FBR continue,” he said. He also directed a forensic audit of cases related to tax matters.

Shehbaz committed that the officers, who were found to be involved in making cases on weak or false grounds, would be given punishment, while officers who had constituted cases on merit with honesty and hard work would be rewarded.

The meeting was told that after the prime minister’s instructions, reputable lawyers were brought onto the panel, and as a result, from July to December 2024, 586 cases were resolved in the high court, and 637 pending cases were resolved in the Supreme Court.

It was told in the meeting that, as per the prime minister’s directions, a litigation management dashboard for higher courts had been developed in the FBR, whereas the preparation of a tax tribunals management system at the Ministry of Law and Justice was in its final stages, which will be launched soon.

Separately, chairing a review meeting on the progress on the government’s initiatives for development and facilitation of SMEs, the prime minister directed to increase the youth loan amount from Rs0.5 million to Rs1.5 million under the PM’s Youth Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and prepare a special package for women entrepreneurs in small scale business.

Meanwhile, the prime minister welcomed the announcement of the long-awaited ceasefire in Palestine and appreciated the arduous efforts for mediation rendered by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA, Egypt and other international partners.

Separately, in a call-on paid by a six-member delegation led by Menzies Aviation Chief Executive Officer Philip Joeinig here, the prime minister welcomed the launch of international logistics company Menzies Aviation in Pakistan hoping that it would help promote new technology, attract international investors and generate youth employment in the country.