NADRA Shares Private Data of Rich Pakistanis Evading FBR Taxes

On special demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to enhance the tax net to collect higher revenue, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started receiving data from the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) on rich individuals not paying taxes. Sources told ProPakistani that NADRA has shared data including bank accounts, property ownership, and luxury vehicle registrations of 195,000 rich Pakistanis outside the tax net with FBR. The FBR plans to target these individuals for tax collection, as their lavish lifestyles indicate substantial income levels. Sources added that there is strong evidence suggesting that these high-income individuals are not fulfilling their tax obligations. Earlier this month, FBR chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said that not even the top 5 percent of the wealthiest population is filing taxes. In July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed FBR to bring wealthy individuals into the tax net. Today, on IMF demand and after several attempts, NADRA has started sharing private data of rich individuals with FBR to enforce tax regime enhancement measures and improve tax revenue in the current quarter of fiscal year 2024-25.