PM orders action against officers assisting tax evaders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against individuals and sectors involved in tax evasion. The prime minister, chairing a review meeting on broadening the tax base and increasing tax revenue, said that individuals and sectors capable of paying taxes must be brought into the tax net.

He also instructed stringent accountability of officers and personnel assisting tax evaders, according to a PM Office press release.

The prime minister lauded the efforts of the government’s economic team for swiftly heading toward achieving Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s revenue targets for the current fiscal year. He directed to complete the digital monitoring of cement and other sectors by next month. Besides, efforts to increase tax revenue from the tobacco sector should be accelerated in collaboration with the provinces. He directed that pending tax-related cases should be pursued effectively to ensure the recovery of the nation’s money. During the briefing, the participants were told that the complete implementation of the Track and Trace System at cement plants nationwide led to a significant increase of billions of rupees in tax revenue. With the implementation of this system in the sugar industry, tax revenue increased by 35 percent from November 2024 to April 2025. It was told that tax revenue target equivalent to 10.6 percent of GDP would be attained as a result of reforms in the FBR.

Separately, chairing a review meeting on the construction of 15 new Danish Schools and Danish University, the prime minister directed expediting work on the under-construction Danish schools and university and said that the establishment of these institutions across the country was among the top priorities of the government. The prime minister directed for installation of smart boards in all the classrooms, establishment of digital libraries and merit based and transparent appointment process of the teaching staff in these schools. He opined that local eligible teaching staff should be given priority during the appointment process and directed for submission of proposals for the establishment of Danish Authority.

During the meeting, a briefing was given over the under-construction Danish Schools and Danish University, Islamabad. Some 41 percent construction work over Danish School, Islamabad, had been achieved which would be completed by December this year.

In Gilgit Baltistan, work on Danish Schools in Sultan Abad, Ghanche and Astore would be completed by June 30, 2026 whereas work on Bhimber and Bagh schools would also be completed in June 2026. The feasibility and design of the Danish schools in Sharda, Sibi, Musakhel and Zhob were completed. In Hub, Karachi and Chitral, the work on acquiring land for Danish schools was underway while with the federal cabinet’s approval, land for the establishment of Danish University had been allocated.