The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue was informed on Wednesday that certain Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials reportedly held assets far exceeding their declared income.
Senator Talha Mahmood highlighted that some tax officials earning between Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 400,000 reportedly owned luxury vehicles and assets worth billions of rupees. He noted that these assets were disproportionately high compared to their declared earnings and suggested forming a sub-committee to investigate the matter.
The senator also criticized provisions in the FBR Amendment Bill 2026, stating that they grant sweeping powers to the FBR chairman, and claimed that businesses were sometimes treated as criminals by tax authorities.
Responding to the allegations, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized that all civil servants, including FBR officials, are legally required to declare their assets under parliamentary directives. He urged lawmakers to identify discrepancies but maintained that a separate sub-committee was unnecessary, as existing forums could address such issues.
The minister clarified that the current discussion pertained to the new Tax Policy Board under the amendment bill, not the appointment of the FBR chairman.
Despite objections and concerns raised during the session, the Senate committee approved the FBR Amendment Bill 2026, moving forward with the proposed changes to the tax authority’s framework.
