Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial has stated that the government intends to completely abolish the ‘super tax’; initially, its rate was reduced by two percent, and work has now begun toward its gradual elimination.
Addressing a meeting held during his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) in Karachi, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial stated that an FBR office would be established at KATI to address the tax-related issues faced by industrialists in the Korangi Industrial Area. He added that the FBR would consult with stakeholders to rectify flaws in the import process for raw materials.
He further announced that the scope of the FBR Help Desk would be expanded from Karachi to include Sukkur.
Rashid Mahmood Langrial mentioned that meetings would be convened to resolve issues concerning border trade for the leather industry. He noted that the implementation of the FBR’s ‘Track and Trace’ system—modeled after the framework used by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for the pharmaceutical industry—is intended to improve the tax system and facilitate the business community.
He urged industrialists and the business community to cooperate with the FBR in identifying and eliminating elements involved in tax evasion, with the goal of making the tax system transparent and effective.
During the event, the FBR Chairman listened to the concerns of industrialists from various sectors and issued on-the-spot directives for their resolution.
Earlier, KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for instructing the FBR Chairman to visit Karachi every month to help improve the economy and alleviate the challenges faced by industrialists. He suggested that if members of the Federal Cabinet and other ministers were to follow the FBR Chairman’s example by dedicating time to Karachi, it could significantly strengthen Pakistan’s economy. He stated that through the FBR’s proactive policies, a faceless system, and the effective implementation of digitalization, it is possible not only to significantly expand the tax base and increase revenue collection but also to achieve the government’s export target of Rs 100 billion.
The KATI President emphasized that special measures are essential to resolve tax-related issues concerning the export of raw materials, thereby fostering industrial and commercial activity.
He noted that a major challenge faced by industrialists is the inordinate delay in the disbursement of tax refunds. Billions of rupees—belonging to export-oriented industries and compliant taxpayers—remain stuck with the FBR for extended periods; in reality, these funds constitute the working capital of these industrial enterprises.
Sheikh Umer Rehan urged strict adherence to the stipulated timelines for refund payments. He called for an effective, automated system for the disbursement of verified and legitimate refunds, stressing that such rightful claims should not be withheld under the pretext of unnecessary audits or excessive documentation requirements.
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