Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial has declared that corruption will no longer be tolerated within the tax authority and that strict action is already underway. Speaking at the Afkaar e Taza ThinkFest in Lahore he said officers who tried to use influence for postings or transfers were suspended or dismissed and for the first time a CSS officer was arrested on corruption charges.
Langrial stressed that Pakistan’s tax system needs reform through lower and fairer rates to encourage compliance and economic growth. He noted that the country has around forty two million households but only a small portion owns air conditioners,adding that wealthier citizens must contribute more to national revenue.
He revealed that hundreds of thousands of individuals had either declared themselves non liable or admitted they could be taxed. He criticized the argument that taxes should not be paid until the government becomes fully honest calling it an incorrect mindset.
According to him, a large amount of income tax remains undeclared despite records of asset ownership. He highlighted underreporting and evasion as major challenges and said modern technology and artificial intelligence are being used to audit returns and trace hidden assets.
Langrial added that the number of tax filers has increased significantly and tax collection as a share of the economy has improved.He acknowledged future challenges but insisted that better compliance is the only sustainable solution.
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