Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Federal Board of Revenue to further strengthen enforcement to increase revenues and curb tax evasion. He was chairing a weekly review meeting on FBR's affairs in Islamabad today.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister also directed the majority of productive sectors to be brought under the scope of automated monitoring to increase tax revenues. He advised the Drug Regulatory Authority to expedite the serialization of medicines manufactured in the country. Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif commended the economic team for recruiting experts on merit for the executive team of Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and for their efforts to make it an effective institution.

He emphasized the development of the Auto Tax System, Digital Invoicing System (IRIS), and other applications for taxpayers in Urdu and other local languages. The meeting was briefed on the implementation of multiple technology-based systems for monitoring production in various sectors to boost tax revenues, while several other systems are expected to become operational soon.

The meeting highlighted that video analytics, unit counting, barcode scanning, stamping, serialization, and other methods are being employed to monitor production. Notably, monitoring of production at all sugar, cement, cigarette, and fertilizer factories has resulted in increased revenue. Similar steps are being taken to monitor production in the textile, leather, paper, automobile, beverage, and other sectors, which are expected to generate billions of rupees in additional tax collection.

Furthermore, amendments have been made to the law governing Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees to ensure transparency and restore taxpayers' confidence. The new executive team of PRAL is now operational, and its digital invoicing system is fully activated.

The meeting was informed that FBR's new data center, aligned with modern requirements, has been fully completed, and an integrated system for GPS tracking of petroleum products is being implemented. Additionally, a digital cargo tracking system, particularly the e-bility system, has been introduced to curb smuggling and track cargo within the country.