KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has announced plans to provide strategic guidelines to the Federal Board of Revenue to help achieve tax targets through sustainable and business-friendly measures.
In a statement, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh emphasized that the organization’s proposals would focus on broadening the tax base by bringing the untaxed economy into the formal system, rather than placing additional burden on existing taxpayers. He warned that excessive taxation on compliant sectors could lead to closures in manufacturing and exports, ultimately harming economic growth.
The FPCCI is set to unveil its much-anticipated “Shadow Budget” for the fiscal year 2026-27 next week. The document is expected to outline pro-business and pro-growth policy recommendations aimed at supporting economic stability and encouraging investment.
According to Sheikh, the alternative fiscal framework will present a pragmatic roadmap for macroeconomic management, prioritizing tax system simplification and expanding documentation of the economy. He stressed that relying on a shrinking pool of compliant taxpayers is unsustainable and detrimental to industrial expansion.
The FPCCI chief called for a paradigm shift in economic planning, highlighting that the current approach risks undermining productivity and competitiveness. He noted that the Shadow Budget is not merely a critique of existing policies but a well-researched blueprint offering practical solutions.
The proposals will also emphasize incentivizing trade and industry, improving ease of doing business, and creating a more equitable taxation structure. By integrating undocumented sectors into the tax net, FPCCI believes the FBR can achieve its revenue targets without stifling growth in key economic sectors.
The initiative reflects growing collaboration between policymakers and the business community to strengthen Pakistan’s fiscal outlook.
