FBR refuses to share top taxpayer data with Senate panel without cabinet approval

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) informed a Senate sub-committee on Monday that details of the country’s highest taxpayers could not be disclosed without approval of the federal cabinet.

The matter came up during a meeting of the sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro.

The committee had earlier directed the FBR to submit complete details of taxes assessed, collected and pending from the tobacco industry over the past 20 years.

It had also sought records of all registered tobacco factories, documentary evidence on pending taxes, a list of tobacco companies and their brands, and revenue and tax collection data for the same period.

FBR officials said they had brought bulk data but had omitted certain information. They said the FBR had written to the Ministry of Law for guidance on whether the requested data could be shared with the committee.

Senator Abro expressed dissatisfaction and directed the FBR to provide taxpayer data. FBR officials said sharing details of the highest taxpayers would require cabinet approval.

Abro said the FBR was complicating the matter unnecessarily and insisted that the data be placed before the committee.

The committee was also briefed that 35 tobacco companies operate in the country with multiple brands. FBR officials said factories operating in tax-exempt areas had previously enjoyed income tax exemptions, but those exemptions ended from July 2026.

The committee also reviewed the alleged theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR warehouses in Swabi and Mardan.

Abro said the FIA was independently investigating the matter and the committee had no responsibility for that process.

He also questioned whether incorrect information on annual tobacco tax evasion had been provided to the Prime Minister before an advertisement was issued.

Senator Dilawar Khan also criticised the FBR’s tax administration and questioned why incorrect information had allegedly been conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

He also asked why an officer allegedly under investigation in the 2,828-carton theft case had been granted leave.