The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started a nationwide operation to bring jewellers into the tax system. The focus is on those who are either not registered at all or are paying much less tax than they should.
According to FBR, there are around 57,000 jewellers in Pakistan, but only 20,000 are registered, and just 10,000 of them have filed tax returns. Notices have already been sent to jewellers in big cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Multan.
In Islamabad alone, 50 jewellers have been identified for issues such as mismatches between their tax returns and the actual size of their shops, business activity, or lifestyle. Thousands more jewellers across the country are still not part of the tax system, and FBR is asking them to explain their position.
Officials said that no business owner would be unfairly targeted, but those found guilty of tax evasion will face strict action. They added, “If everyone pays their fair share of taxes, the country’s economy will run more smoothly.”
This operation is part of FBR’s larger plan to expand the tax base, reduce tax evasion, and ensure all sectors of the economy follow tax laws. The goal is to completely eliminate tax evasion by bringing every type of business into the national tax net.
