Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan successfully met its December tax target despite political unrest and protests that attempted to destabilize the government. Addressing the federal cabinet, the PM credited the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving 97% of its tax collection target, fulfilling commitments made to the IMF.
The prime minister praised officials for their efforts, particularly the Rs72 billion mobilized through Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) measures. He also highlighted a $6 million grant from the Bill Gates Foundation to digitize Karachi Port operations, improving trade efficiency by 39%.
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PM Shehbaz noted that coordinated efforts between federal institutions and the military had effectively curbed smuggling, especially of sugar and petroleum, while remittances for the first five months of the fiscal year reached $15 billion, with a potential to surpass $35 billion.
However, he expressed concern over the rise in terrorism, attributing it to the Afghan government’s release of militants. The PM emphasized the importance of unity for the country’s prosperity and continued clean governance, free from scandals.
