Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials to conduct monthly visits to Karachi, aiming to directly address tax-related grievances of the business community and foster a more cooperative relationship. Main Developments During a review meeting on FBR reforms on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz directed that senior officers visit Karachi in the first week of every month. This ensures direct contact with businesses, enabling quicker resolution of their issues without delay. The prime minister emphasized that companies complying with tax laws should receive official encouragement and acknowledgment of their services. He described the business community as the “backbone of the country’s economy” and urged authorities to provide all possible facilities to boost production and exports. Read also: 3 Gulf states intercept Iranian drones as US-Iran Strait crisis escalates Background The meeting was attended by key federal ministers including Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, along with other senior government officials. Officials briefed the meeting on FBR’s performance and ongoing reforms. They reported that production monitoring systems have been installed in the tiles and fertiliser industries, with installation underway in the textile and beverage sectors. This monitoring has yielded significant tax revenue increases. Why It Matters PM Shehbaz stated that Pakistan’s economy is on a path to stability, with the current year expected to see economic growth and increased business activity. The government aims to create ease of doing business, promote investment and exports, and make the tax system more transparent and simple to boost business confidence. The production monitoring system alone has generated an additional Rs42 billion in taxes from the sugar industry and Rs38 billion from the cement industry over the past year. The beverages industry contributed an extra Rs15 billion, demonstrating the tangible impact of such oversight on revenue collection. What's Next The monthly visits by senior FBR officers to Karachi are set to begin in the coming weeks. The government will continue implementing production monitoring in the textile and beverage sectors, with further reforms expected to enhance tax compliance and business engagement.