FBR Refuses to Reveal Who Pakistan’s Biggest Taxpayers Are

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday declined to share details of Pakistan’s highest taxpayers with a Senate committee, saying the information cannot be disclosed without the federal cabinet’s approval.

The issue was raised during a meeting of a subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, which was reviewing 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 told the committee they had brought most of the requested information but had withheld certain details. They said the board had sought legal guidance from the Ministry of Law on whether the requested information could legally be shared with the parliamentary committee.

The committee also directed the FBR to provide details of the country’s highest taxpayers. However, FBR officials said such information is released only after approval from the federal cabinet and could not be shared directly with the committee.

Expressing dissatisfaction, Senator Abro said the FBR was unnecessarily complicating the matter and insisted that the requested information be submitted. “If you do not provide the data, your prime minister will provide it here,” he told FBR officials, warning that the committee would pursue the issue if necessary.

The committee had previously 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 factories, tobacco brands, and related tax data.

During the briefing, FBR officials informed lawmakers that 35 tobacco companies currently operate in Pakistan and that income tax exemptions previously available to factories in tax exempt areas ended in July 2026.

The meeting also reviewed several enforcement cases, including the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR warehouses and the theft of 398 kilograms of silver while it was being transported by customs officials. Customs authorities told the committee that several suspects had been arrested and that a significant portion of the stolen silver had been recovered.

Lawmakers also raised concerns over tax evasion in former FATA, alleged revenue fraud involving oil companies, and weak enforcement within the tax administration. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed the committee that it would work with the FBR to strengthen enforcement efforts in tax exempt areas and combat smuggling.