FBR Targets Key Sectors in Major Audit Drive
ISLAMABAD – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched a major audit initiative targeting a wide range of industries in a bid to strengthen tax oversight and boost compliance.
The sectors under scrutiny include automotive, aviation, banking, beverages, cement, ceramics, chemicals, coal, departmental stores, edible oil, education, electronics, fertilizers, flour mills, food imports, IT, manufacturing, paper and packaging, plastics, poultry, power, real estate, restaurants and marquees, rice mills, services, sugar, tea, telecom, textiles, and tobacco, among others.
In the first phase, the FBR will prioritize audits in high-impact sectors such as automobiles, textiles, iron and steel, independent power producers (IPPs) and distribution companies (DISCOs), pharmaceuticals, finance and insurance, banking, sugar, chemicals and fertilizers, real estate and construction, petroleum and lubricants, cement, telecommunications, and tobacco.
To carry out the plan, the FBR will engage human resource firms to provide qualified audit mentors and sector experts. A dedicated Selection Committee will review candidates from a shortlisted pool, with interviews conducted either in person or virtually, depending on feasibility.
Officials say the initiative aims to tighten audit oversight and ensure compliance across Pakistan’s most critical industries.
This move follows recent amendments to the income tax regulations for the fiscal year 2025-26. Under the new rules, non-filers withdrawing more than Rs50,000 a day from bank accounts will now be charged a 0.8% withholding tax, up from the previous 0.6% rate.
The revised tax measures are designed to crack down on undocumented cash transactions and encourage more individuals to file their tax returns.
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