Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has refused to provide details of Pakistan’s highest taxpayers to a Senate committee, stating that the information cannot be disclosed without prior approval from the federal cabinet.
The matter came up during a meeting of a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro. The committee was reviewing issues related to tobacco taxation, cigarette smuggling, tax enforcement, and the alleged theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR warehouses in Swabi and Mardan.
FBR officials informed the committee that while most of the requested information had been provided, certain details were withheld after the board sought legal advice from the Ministry of Law regarding whether such information could legally be shared with a parliamentary committee.
When lawmakers requested a list of the country’s highest taxpayers, FBR officials said the information is released only after receiving approval from the federal cabinet and therefore could not be shared directly with the committee.
Expressing dissatisfaction, Senator Saifullah Abro criticized the FBR for unnecessarily delaying the matter and insisted that the requested data be submitted. He warned officials that if the information was not provided, the committee would pursue the issue through other channels.
The committee had earlier directed the FBR to submit records of taxes assessed, collected, and pending from the tobacco industry over the past 20 years, along with details of registered tobacco manufacturers, tobacco brands, and related tax data.
During the briefing, FBR officials stated that 35 tobacco companies are currently operating in Pakistan. They also informed lawmakers that income tax exemptions previously available to factories located in tax-exempt areas ended in July 2026.
The meeting also reviewed several enforcement cases, including the theft of cigarettes from FBR warehouses and the theft of 398 kilograms of silver during transportation by customs officials. Customs authorities told the committee that multiple suspects had been arrested and a significant portion of the stolen silver had been recovered.
Lawmakers also expressed concerns over tax evasion in the former FATA region, alleged revenue fraud involving oil companies, and weaknesses in tax enforcement. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) assured the committee that it would continue working with the FBR to strengthen enforcement efforts and curb smuggling in tax-exempt areas.
