FBR Chairman Outlines Implementation Plan for Approved Reforms

The Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana, revealed that the caretaker government has greenlit reforms for the FBR, with implementation to be carried out by the next elected government. Tiwana shared this information during an informal discussion with Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, focusing on FBR reforms.

Tiwana emphasized that the groundwork for these reforms will be completed by the FBR, with plans to submit them to the incoming government for implementation. The recent approval for the restructuring and digitization of the FBR by the federal cabinet underscores this commitment to reform. Notably, Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar, in a televised address following the cabinet meeting, assured that the restructuring roadmap, endorsed by all stakeholders, would be put into action by the elected government.

However, recent developments have seen a hiccup, as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) intervened by suspending a notification issued by the caretaker government on February 4 regarding the formation of an implementation committee for the FBR restructuring. Despite this setback, Tiwana’s statement reflects a resolute stance on the eventual realization of these crucial reforms, pending the transition to the next government.