Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised a record tax collection of Rs12.957 trillion [1] during a high-level meeting with Federal Board of Revenue officials.
The achievement marks a critical juncture for Pakistan's fiscal strategy, signaling an attempt to stabilize the economy through aggressive revenue mobilization and digitisation. By increasing the tax base, the government aims to reduce reliance on external borrowing and fund public services.
During the meeting in Islamabad, the Prime Minister attributed the success to a comprehensive strategy implemented over the last two and a half years [2]. He said the results were due to a combination of structural reforms, the integration of digital tools, and improved teamwork within the revenue agency.
"We have achieved a record tax collection of Rs12.957 trillion, a testament to the reforms and teamwork," Sharif said [1].
The Prime Minister emphasized that the push toward digitisation has been central to the government's ability to track revenue more accurately and reduce leakages. He said the reforms, digitisation, and teamwork over the past two and a half years have yielded these record results [2].
Looking forward, Sharif outlined a shift toward a more supportive environment for the private sector. He said the government intends to pair its collection efforts with policies that encourage investment and industrial expansion.
"2026 will be a year of growth, and we will introduce business‑friendly reforms," Sharif said.
The administration's focus now moves toward sustaining these collection levels while ensuring that the new reforms do not stifle economic activity. The meeting served as both a validation of past efforts and a roadmap for the current fiscal year's objectives.
“We have achieved a record tax collection of Rs12.957 trillion, a testament to the reforms and teamwork.”
The record tax haul suggests that Pakistan's efforts to digitize its revenue infrastructure are yielding tangible results. However, the Prime Minister's pivot toward 'business-friendly reforms' indicates a recognition that aggressive collection must be balanced with economic incentives to avoid discouraging domestic investment during a period of targeted growth.
