FBR Increases Minimum Taxable Value of Specified Steel Scrap from 55% to 60%
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised the minimum taxable valuation of certain categories of remeltable iron and steel scrap, increasing the prescribed benchmark from 55% to 60% of the reference value of steel bars. The change is expected to increase the minimum value considered for sales tax calculations on qualifying scrap transactions. The […]
FBR Revises Customs Duty Drawback Rates for Exporters from October 27, 2026
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced revised customs duty drawback rates for Pakistani exporters under SRO 1908(I)/2026, effective October 27, 2026. The new notification replaces the previous framework issued in 2009. The revised rates cover a wide range of export products, including cotton fabrics, garments, hosiery, polyester textiles, carpets, blankets, sleeping bags, tents […]
Pakistan Considers New Tax Collection Agency as FBR Reform Plans Gain Momentum
Pakistan’s federal government is considering major changes to the country’s tax administration, including the possibility of establishing a new tax collection agency or further restructuring the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The move comes amid concerns over revenue performance and the limited results of previous reform efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the FBR […]
Pakistan Explores Digital Bonds and Asset Tokenization as 75 Firms Seek Virtual Asset Licenses
Pakistan is taking new steps towards modernizing its financial sector by exploring digital bonds, asset tokenization and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered financial services in collaboration with the World Bank Group. The development comes as the country works to establish a regulated environment for virtual assets and attract both domestic and international businesses. According to the Pakistan […]
Pakistan Targets Over 4% Economic Growth as Government Plans $1 Billion-Plus Privatization Drive
Pakistan is aiming for economic growth of more than 4% in the current fiscal year as the government steps up efforts to attract private investment, sell state-owned entities and strengthen the country’s financial position. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has also confirmed that discussions with the United States are continuing over a proposed $10 billion exchange […]
FBR Introduces Online Facility for Steel Sector to Report Electricity Consumption
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new online mechanism to help steel manufacturers report their electricity consumption for sales tax purposes when power distribution companies fail to provide the required data on time. The facility is particularly relevant to steel melters, re-rollers and composite units, which are required to declare electricity consumption through Annex-K of […]
Pakistan to Make Parts of Civil Servants’ Asset Declarations Public by December 2026
The federal government is preparing to make selected details of the assets and income declarations of senior civil servants publicly available by the end of December 2026. The move is linked to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural benchmark and is part of wider efforts to strengthen transparency in the public sector. However, the government […]
Aasaan Tax Scheme Sees Limited Response from New Retail Taxpayers
Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is facing a slow response to its latest attempt to bring small retailers into the formal tax system. The Aasaan Tax Scheme has so far attracted only a limited number of completed tax returns, while the number of genuinely new taxpayers remains particularly low. According to the latest figures, […]
Pakistan’s Freelancing Sector Sees Sharp Rise in Export Earnings
Pakistan’s growing freelance economy has recorded another significant milestone, with freelancers earning $352 million in export receipts during July and August of FY27. According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, the figure represents a 44% increase compared with the $244 million earned during the same period a year earlier. The latest numbers highlight […]
Pakistan’s IT Exports Maintain Strong Momentum as Sector Targets $10 Billion
Pakistan’s information technology sector has continued to expand, with IT exports recording significant year-on-year growth during the opening months of the new fiscal year. According to data shared by Topline Securities, Pakistan’s IT exports reached $394 million in August 2026, marking a 17% increase compared with August last year. The latest figure takes the country’s […]
Pakistan Nears IMF Review With Most Targets on Track
Pakistan is heading toward the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) September 2026 review with most of its key programmed targets expected to be on track. According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL), six of the seven quantitative performance criteria are likely to have been met at the March and June 2026 test dates. The IMF review will […]
Pakistan May Introduce Fixed Tax on Agricultural Land Amid IMF Pressure
Pakistan could be heading toward a major change in the way agricultural income is taxed, with the federal government reportedly considering a fixed levy of up to Rs5,000 per acre if provinces fail to achieve their agreed revenue targets. The proposal comes as Islamabad works to meet commitments under its programmed with the International Monetary […]
Pakistan’s Textile Exports Jump to $1.81 Billion in July 2026
Pakistan’s textile industry began the new fiscal year on a strong note, with textile exports reaching $1.81 billion in July 2026, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The latest figures represent a 43.13% increase from June, when textile exports stood at $1.27 billion. Compared with July 2025, exports were also […]
Pakistan Plans Major Reforms to Transform Construction Industry
Pakistan is preparing to introduce a broad set of reforms aimed at improving the country’s construction industry, with the proposed establishment of a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) at the center of the initiative. The government is also examining the possibility of creating a dedicated Construction Development Bank (CDB) to address financing challenges faced by […]
FBR Announces Stricter Customs Penalties for Delayed Clearance of Goods
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a revised penalty regime to address delays in customs declarations, clearance and export of goods. The new measures will take effect from October 1, 2026, and can impose fines of up to Rs1 million per case. The changes are aimed at encouraging traders to complete customs procedures […]
Pakistan and Hong Kong Strengthen Customs Cooperation to Combat Suspicious Trade
Pakistan and Hong Kong have taken an important step toward strengthening cooperation between their customs authorities by signing a new agreement focused on information sharing, enforcement and the monitoring of suspicious trade activity. The arrangement provides a formal framework for both sides to assist each other in customs-related matters. It includes the exchange of information, […]
Agro Processors Prepares for PSX Listing With 15% Public Offering
Pakistan’s equity market is preparing for another new listing after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) gave the green light to the initial public offering of Agro Processors & Atmospheric Gases Limited. The company plans to make 58,049,541 shares available to investors, representing 15% of its paid-up capital following the IPO. The shares […]
FBR Introduces Higher Withholding Tax for Non-Filer Social Media Creators
Pakistan’s digital economy is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s tax system, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introducing different withholding tax rates for social media content creators based on their taxpayer status. Under the new Withholding Tax Card for 2026, individuals earning money through social media platforms will face a 5% […]
FBR Signals More Tax Relief as Pakistani Businesses Push for Lower Costs
Pakistan’s business community may be in line for further tax relief as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) considers additional measures to reduce the financial pressure on companies. The issue came under discussion during a meeting of a Senate Standing Committee on Finance sub-committee, where business representatives highlighted the growing challenges faced by industries across […]
Pakistan Tightens Export Finance Rules as Government Approves Rs88 Billion Support Package
Pakistan is moving to strengthen oversight of its export financing programmed as the government seeks to boost foreign sales while reducing the chances of subsidized funds being misused. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved an export finance support package worth Rs88 billion for fiscal year 2026-27, combining expanded working-capital financing, long-term funding for export-oriented […]