Govt focusing on reforms in FBR, Senate told

The Pakistani government is concentrating on reforms within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and its affiliated departments, with a specific emphasis on combating corruption, particularly in the realm of Pakistan Customs, according to State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani. During a Senate session presided over by Acting Chairman Syedaal Khan, Kayani informed senators that the government has reduced the Super Tax from 10 to 8 percent for businesses generating more than Rs500 million in annual revenue.

The Super Tax will be further decreased, contingent upon the availability of fiscal space. The government is also working to enhance the Export Facilitation Scheme through consultations with exporters, which permits them to import raw materials by availing government incentives. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is notably focusing on reforms within FBR and its linked departments, Pakistan Customs included, through measures aimed at eradicating corruption and digitalizing operations.

This includes the introduction of the Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system at ports, which aims to streamline trade and minimize human intervention. Additionally, Kayani revealed the establishment of a task force at airports to ensure transparency in customs procedures. Regarding instances of corruption, the state minister reported that 114 complaints were lodged against Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) officials, resulting in penalties for 45 cases, dropped charges for 47 cases, and ongoing investigations in 22 cases.

Similarly, 113 complaints were filed against Inland Revenue Service (IRS) personnel, with penalties imposed in 9 cases, dropped charges in 71 cases, and 33 cases remaining under investigation. However, the session was unable to proceed with its planned legislative agenda, as the quorum was not met, leading to an abrupt adjournment until the following Monday.