Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar said on Thursday that since only making claims was not enough, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken it upon himself to introduce reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar sitting alongside him, he said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had asked the government to eliminate tax evasion and electricity theft from the country. “The Fund has also asked the government to bring more and more people into the tax net,” the minister said, adding, “It has also urged the government to cut down its expenditures.”  

He further said that the load of electricity bills on the people could be reduced by preventing line losses and incidents of power theft.

Azam informed that presently tax cases of over Rs2,700 billion were pending in courts. “Courts must decide these cases as soon as possible,” he emphasized.

He said that the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) role in the revival of the country’s economy was quite significant. “The Board’s legal matters are not hidden from anybody.”

Referring to recent transfers made in the department, the minister claimed these were on merit. “In this regard, the prime minister gave a ‘free hand’ to the FBR.”

He went on to say that it was up to the concerned departments to put an end to tax evasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Ataullah Tarar said never in his life had he seen a successful official tour like that paid by the prime minister to Saudi Arabia recently. “PM Shehbaz held 12 meetings during his two-day stay in the brotherly country,” he said, adding, “The prime minister twice met with the Saudi Crown Prince during the ongoing month.”

Similarly, he said, Saudi foreign minister, along with a delegation, had come to Pakistan before Eidul Fitr this year.

Ata informed that a delegation of Saudi businessmen would land in Pakistan in a few days from now and would review the prospects for investment in the country.

“This is a turning point in Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia,” the minister said, and expressed the optimism that the country’s economy would grow in the coming days.