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Faced with mounting fiscal pressures, rising inflation, and growing public frustration, the state is under immense pressure to rebuild trust in governance while stabilising the economy.
To meet a major International Monetary Fund (IMF) condition, the federal government plans to collect an additional Rs1.1 trillion in revenue during the next fiscal year through a combination of federal and provincial measures. Yet behind the numbers lies a deeper question: can Pakistan truly reform its system without confronting corruption in all its forms?
The government’s revenue strategy is ambitious. Of the total additional target, approximately Rs680 billion is expected from the federal side, mainly through the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and a substantial increase in petroleum levy.
Simultaneously, authorities are planning an aggressive administrative crackdown on tax evasion. Revenue from anti-evasion measures is projected to double to Rs778bn through a “faceless” tax system, stricter audits, digital invoicing, and real-time banking data integration. The sales tax net is also expected to widen by including additional fast-moving consumer goods.
