ISLAMABAD: A Senate sub-committee has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to develop a legal mechanism for sharing consolidated tax information with Parliament without violating taxpayer confidentiality laws.
The direction came after FBR officials informed the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control that Section 216 of the Income Tax Ordinance prohibits disclosure of individual taxpayers’ records. Officials said only consolidated sector-wise information could legally be shared.
On the committee’s instructions, the FBR submitted industry-wise data on consumption certificates and tax revenues.
The committee also sought combined details of ghee and steel factories, along with consumption figures for the erstwhile FATA and PATA, and asked the Ministry of Law and Justice to present its legal opinion on disclosure of information at the next meeting.
Senator Talha Mahmood questioned why tea imports worth Rs62 billion were not reflected in the available consumption certificate records.
Senator Dilawar Khan also sought details of internal audits conducted on consumption certificates and asked whether disciplinary action had ever been taken against officials who issued incorrect certificates.
FBR officials told the committee that complete tax return and payment data for the financial year ended June 30, 2026, would be available by July 18. They also assured members that the next meeting would include detailed information on actual tobacco production, documented and undocumented goods, and manufacturing taking place outside the tax net.
The committee directed the FBR to compile complete tax return data and continue investigations into tobacco, cigarette and other tax evasion cases to their logical conclusion.
