ISLAMABAD: In a major step to boost tax compliance and close revenue gaps, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated the first phase of an intensified tax scrutiny campaign, selecting 14 key sectors for detailed audits and monitoring.
This initiative falls under FBR’s wider reform agenda focused on strengthening enforcement, curbing leakages, and increasing documentation of the economy.
The sectors under immediate scrutiny include:
Automobile
Textile
Iron & Steel
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs)
Pharmaceutical
Banking & Insurance
Beverages
Chemicals & Fertilizers
Real Estate (Builders & Developers)
Petroleum Oil Lubricants (POL)
Cement
Sugar
Telecommunications
Tobacco
To implement the plan effectively, the FBR has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for hiring 100 sector specialists and 58 audit monitors across its three main operational zones—North, Central, and South. These experts will be deployed in LTOs, CTOs, MTOs, and RTOs, with two to three audit monitors per office.
The FBR’s broader goal is to eventually expand scrutiny to 42 high-impact sectors. By integrating domain-specific professionals, the authority aims to strengthen oversight in industries where tax compliance has historically remained low despite high revenue potential.
