
PM Shehbaz directs swift action on pending tax cases to recover national wealth
He said this while chairing a review meeting on broadening the tax base and increasing tax revenue, as per a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The PM ordered that strict action should be taken against individuals and sectors involved in tax evasion, and emphasized that officers and personnel who facilitate tax evasion must also be held strictly accountable.
'Expanding the tax net is the government's top priority. We aim to reduce the tax rate to ease the burden on the common man,' the PMO quoted the premier as saying.
PM Shehbaz orders crackdown on tax evasion, under-invoicing
The meeting was informed that the complete implementation of the Track and Trace system in cement plants across the country has led to a significant increase of billions of rupees in tax revenue.
It was further informed that after the implementation of this system in the sugar industry, there has been a 35% increase in tax revenue between November 2024 and April 2025.
The premier said that the country's economy is stabilizing and moving towards growth.
'Everyone must fulfill their responsibility for the country's development,' the PM urged.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
19 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
PM reaffirms security of Chinese nationals as top priority
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterated that the protection of Chinese nationals in Pakistan remains a top priority for the government, underscoring its significance in the context of the country's economic future and bilateral cooperation with China. Chairing a high-level meeting on security arrangements for Chinese citizens, the prime minister said that creating a safe and business-friendly environment was essential to maintaining the confidence of Chinese companies operating in Pakistan. 'The confidence of Chinese companies in the Pakistani economy is extremely important for our economic future,' he stated. Read More: UN adopts Pakistan-sponsored resolution on 'peaceful dispute settlement' He highlighted ongoing efforts to bolster security for Chinese nationals across the country, including in the federal capital, citing Safe City projects as a key component of this strategy. These surveillance and response systems, he said, were being implemented nationwide in accordance with international standards. 'China is our friendly country, and the safety of our Chinese brothers is our foremost responsibility,' PM Shehbaz said while noting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had entered its second phase, focused on business-to-business collaboration, further increasing the importance of secure conditions for Chinese citizens. In view of this, the premier directed authorities to take special measures at all airports to facilitate the arrival and departure of Chinese nationals. He also called for the inclusion of Safe City-standard surveillance systems in all upcoming housing projects. Also Read: Punjab opposition leader, PTI supporters sentenced to 10 years in May 9 case During the briefing, the interior minister and senior officials updated the prime minister on security protocols in place, highlighting that special arrangements had been made nationwide in light of potential security threats. Chinese nationals are currently being provided with security escort services for travel, the meeting was informed. The federal and provincial governments are working in coordination on these measures, the briefing added, noting that Safe City projects were being expanded across multiple urban centres. The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, State Minister Talal Chaudhry, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials.


Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz assures foolproof security for Chinese nationals across Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday assured that foolproof security arrangements are being implemented nationwide to safeguard Chinese nationals, amid the growing scope of bilateral cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Chairing a high-level review meeting, the premier said the government was committed to enhancing security infrastructure and surveillance capabilities in major cities to ensure a safe, business-friendly environment for Chinese citizens working and living in Pakistan. 'China is our friendly nation, and the safety of our Chinese brothers is of utmost importance,' he said. 'We are building a secure environment for long-term collaboration and investment.' He stressed that with CPEC entering its second phase, focusing on private sector and business-to-business partnerships, securing Chinese personnel and assets has become even more critical. The meeting was briefed on existing measures, including the deployment of dedicated security escorts, high-resolution surveillance in residential areas, and fast-tracked facilitation for Chinese citizens at airports and border points. Ongoing coordination between federal and provincial authorities was also reviewed. Sharif directed relevant departments to accelerate the installation of Safe City systems across urban centres and ensure that all new housing projects include surveillance infrastructure aligned with national standards. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, and SAPM Tariq Fatemi were among the officials present. 'The confidence of Chinese companies in Pakistan's economy is vital to our economic future,' the prime minister noted, urging authorities to remove any gaps in the protection framework.


Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Chinese firms to retain 50% proceeds
Pakistan is exploring concrete steps to ensure Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's upcoming visit to China yields tangible results, with cabinet members urging resolution of longstanding issues hampering Chinese investment instead of merely signing more MoUs. To remove a major obstacle in relocating Chinese industries to the Gwadar Free Zone, the government has decided to allow Chinese firms operating there to retain 50% of their export earnings to settle dues, according to government sources. To ensure a productive visit, a ministerial committee has been formed to oversee planning, and called Pakistan's ambassador to Beijing, Khalil Hashmi, for further consultations. The committee has held several meetings thus far. Discussions are being held to assess whether hosting a Business Conference in Tianjin would help attract investment or if efforts should instead focus on addressing deeper concerns that have discouraged Chinese private sector participation over the past decade. PM Sharif will be visiting China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Heads of State Council meeting at the end of August. Pakistan's embassy has proposed a Business Conference on September 2, but some officials believe it may not help achieve the desired results. One of the main hurdles in populating the Gwadar Free Zone has been facilitation of foreign currency operations. The issue has been discussed at various levels, including twice in the Cabinet Committee on Chinese Investment in Pakistan (CCoCIP). In March, the CCoCIP directed the finance, commerce, industries ministries, the Board of Investment, and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to implement a foreign currency facilitation pilot in Gwadar. Sources confirmed that the short-term solution now agreed upon is to let companies retain half of their export proceeds. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed this to The Express Tribune. "For the short term, companies in Gwadar Free Zone can retain up to 50% of their export proceeds in Special Foreign Currency Accounts," said Iqbal. "These funds can be freely used for payments abroad of a current account nature, without prior SBP approval." However, Iqbal stressed that for long-term facilitation, the Gwadar Port Authority law will have to be aligned with other laws. As per sources, the SBP has maintained that legal changes are necessary for broader foreign currency use. It has recommended bringing Gwadar Free Zone in line with Export Processing Zones by amending the Gwadar Port Authority Act to waive relevant sections of the 1947 Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. Until then, the 50% retention policy will remain in place. Another issue highlighted by the sources remains the consistent provision of electricity and water to Gwadar, which has lingered for nearly a decade. Pakistan aims to attract Chinese industries seeking to relocate amid the China-US trade war, officials said. To address power issues, the cabinet committee directed the energy ministry to coordinate with the Pakistan Navy to ensure interim electricity supply to Gwadar's desalination plant from the naval grid. It also instructed the Power Division to fast-track revisions in electricity supply for Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and submit a progress report to the CCoCIP. The ministerial committee's discussions have revolved around facilitating industrial relocation and evaluating the value of the proposed business conference. Another meeting of the committee was held Monday. The committee is co-chaired by SAPM on Industry Haroon Akhtar Khan and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and the national coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) also on board. Its mandate includes reviewing progress on agreements and MoUs signed during Sharif's 2023 China visit and subsequent roadshows. Sources said that during one of the meetings, Pakistan's ambassador briefed members on the rationale behind the proposed business conference. He shared that in the previous event, about 150 MoUs were signed and 1,000 B2B meetings took place. However, some committee members expressed concern that the MoUs never materialised into real investments. According to sources, one co-convener told the committee that the prime minister is just not interested in signing more MoUs. Cabinet members also discussed ongoing real investor concerns, including inconsistent policies, difficulty in profit repatriation, exchange rate volatility, and security issues. To address these, it was suggested that Pakistan offer China ready-to-operate industrial zones and SEZs with long-term land leases. It was also recommended that electricity be provided at regionally competitive rates. The SIFC has requested concrete suggestions from the Pakistani embassy in Beijing to make the business conference more impactful. The embassy has proposed exploring cooperation under government-to-government, government-to-business, and B2B models. The committee will also engage with Chinese business representatives to understand their needs and expectations, and identify ways to facilitate project-based investment, new industry development, and the relocation of Chinese production units. In coordination with provincial authorities, the committee will recommend legal facilitation measures and identify steps to remove bottlenecks to Chinese investment. The committee will also monitor the finalisation of a sector-specific investment "pitch book." Key sectors where Pakistan is seeking Chinese investment include chemicals, petrochemicals, iron and steel, copper, electric vehicles, auto parts, solar panel manufacturing, power storage, software development, ICT, and food processing.