The Federal Board of Revenue has declined to share details of Pakistan’s highest taxpayers with a Senate committee, stating that such information cannot be disclosed without prior approval from the federal cabinet.
The issue came up during a meeting of a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Saifullah Abro.
The meeting was convened to review tobacco taxation, cigarette smuggling, tax enforcement, and alleged irregularities, including the reported theft of thousands of cigarette cartons from tax warehouses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
FBR officials told the committee that while most of the requested information had been brought to the meeting, certain details were withheld due to legal constraints. They said the board had sought guidance from the Ministry of Law on whether the information could be legally shared with a parliamentary forum.
When committee members directed the FBR to provide details of the country’s highest taxpayers, officials responded that such disclosures are only made after approval by the federal cabinet and could not be shared directly with the committee.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the explanation, Senator Abro accused the tax authority of unnecessarily complicating the issue. He warned that the committee would pursue the matter if the data were not provided.
“If you do not submit the information, your prime minister will provide it here,” he told FBR officials during the meeting.
The committee had earlier instructed the FBR to submit comprehensive records of taxes assessed, collected, and pending from the tobacco industry over the past two decades. Lawmakers also sought details of registered tobacco factories, cigarette brands, and related tax data.
During the briefing, FBR officials informed senators that 35 tobacco companies are currently operating in Pakistan and that income tax exemptions previously available to factories in tax-exempt areas expired in July 2026.
The meeting also reviewed multiple enforcement cases, including the alleged theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR warehouses in Swabi and Mardan. Another case involving the theft of 398 kilograms of silver during transportation by customs officials was also discussed. Pakistan Customs officials said several suspects had been arrested and that a large portion of the stolen silver had been recovered.
Lawmakers further raised concerns over tax evasion in former tribal districts, alleged revenue fraud involving oil companies, and weaknesses within the tax administration. The Federal Investigation Agency informed the committee that it would coordinate with the FBR to strengthen enforcement in tax-exempt regions and curb smuggling.
The discussion highlighted growing parliamentary pressure on revenue authorities to improve transparency, enforcement, and accountability amid persistent concerns over tax leakage and smuggling.
