FBR sets deadline for textile unit surveillance camera installation

On November 15, 2026, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) mandates all textile spinning units to install video surveillance cameras. This directive aims to monitor production, cotton bales, and the processing of various fibers like cotton, polyester, viscose, wool, and acrylic. The FBR issued Sales Tax General Order No 30 of 2026 to enforce this requirement, emphasizing the need for electronic monitoring of production through video surveillance cameras.

The order specifies several points within the textile processing machinery where these cameras must be installed. These include hopper bale openers and feeders, weighing hopper feeders, and blow room lines dedicated to man-made fibers like polyester and viscose. Additionally, the order targets areas like acrylic waste openers, recycling lines, and mixing/laydown areas where loose fibers are handled.

Registered textile spinning units are required to install these cameras by the end of November 2026. The FBR has also directed vendors to ensure their video analytics solutions are integrated with these cameras. These solutions must meet specific criteria, including real-time production capture, data transmission to the Central Control Unit, storage and archiving of data, detection of unexpected stops, quantitative production analyses, and data analytics for legal actions.

This directive builds upon Sales Tax General Order #08 of 2025, which had already mandated similar monitoring under certain conditions. The FBR's decision underscores the increasing emphasis on technological compliance in the textile industry to streamline production tracking and ensure adherence to regulatory standards.