Prime Minister Sharif warns tax officials against opposing FBR reform measures

At a tax-reform briefing in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that any opposition to the Federal Board of Revenue's ongoing reforms would be met with strict action, including possible termination. He expressed displeasure over a pen-down strike announced by the Inland Revenue Officers Association, which was later withdrawn following senior FBR intervention. Sharif reviewed the pilot faceless assessment and audit project presented by FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, noting that the National Faceless Centre, staffed initially by 27 officers, will handle audits for 300,000 to 400,000 individuals starting October 1.

He reminded officials of four-fold salary increases and provided vehicles and housing, urging them to justify these incentives with results. The prime minister ordered an acceleration of the reforms and promised disciplinary measures against corrupt staff, while praising those showing improvement. The FBR has already suspended two officers and repatriated two others for issuing an unauthorized press statement and calling for a work stoppage.