The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended orders issued by the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) that required the disclosure of taxpayers’ data, holding that financial confidentiality overrides the right to information.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro passed the restraining order while hearing a petition filed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which had challenged the commission’s directives dated January 8, 2026, and December 3, 2025. The PIC had ordered the FBR to share tax-related information under the Right to Information framework.
During the proceedings, the court observed that tax records cannot be made public even under the Right to Information Act, as financial confidentiality takes precedence over disclosure. The IHC stayed the implementation of the PIC’s decisions and issued notices to all parties, seeking their responses.
Senior advocate Hafiz Ehsan Khokhar represented the FBR during the hearing.
Separately, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said the authority has recovered Rs. 70 billion under the Super Tax, with the amount collected in January already added to total revenue.
Speaking to reporters during an informal interaction in Islamabad, Langrial said the FBR has set a revenue target of Rs. 1,028 billion for the current month and expressed confidence it would be met.
He added that total collections under the Super Tax are expected to reach Rs. 217 billion, strengthening the government’s fiscal position.
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