KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial has urged Pakistani exporters to expand their presence in international markets and make effective use of available resources to boost national exports.
He made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), led by its President Sheikh Umer Rehan, to discuss export promotion, tax digitalisation, electronic invoicing, anti-smuggling measures and industrial challenges.
Langrial said the FBR would soon hold meetings with major exporters to review their concerns, identify barriers to export growth and take appropriate measures to address them.
He said the tax authority was pursuing digitalisation and automated mechanisms to bring non-filers into the tax net. He also proposed establishing WhatsApp groups to improve communication between tax officials and the business community.
The FBR chairman described curbing smuggling and illegal trade as essential to protecting domestic industries and promoting legitimate business. He assured the delegation that its concerns would be addressed and directed Member Inland Revenue Operations Zubair Bilal to meet representatives of KATI and the ghee and edible oil industries.
KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan welcomed tax digitalisation but stressed that implementation difficulties surrounding digital invoicing needed to be resolved through proper guidance, technical assistance and effective coordination.
He urged the government to broaden the tax base by bringing all legally liable individuals and businesses into the system rather than concentrating the burden on compliant taxpayers. He also called for simpler, more transparent tax procedures to reduce business costs and encourage investment.
Rehan highlighted regulatory hurdles affecting the ghee, edible oil, textile, pharmaceutical, packaging and plastics industries, calling for a review of unnecessary statutory regulatory orders (SROs) and complicated compliance requirements.
Other participants, including KATI representatives and industry leaders, also raised sector-specific concerns. The delegation emphasised that timely consultation and practical tax reforms were necessary to improve industrial competitiveness, strengthen investor confidence and increase Pakistan’s exports.
