FBR Chief Signals Full Abolition of Super Tax, Promises Business-Friendly Reforms
FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial says the government plans to phase out the Super Tax entirely and is rolling out new facilitation measures for industrialists, including a dedicated tax office at KATI.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) intends to abolish the Super Tax completely, its chairman said, describing the move as a significant relief for Pakistan's business community. Speaking during a visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Wednesday, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial said the Super Tax rate has already been trimmed by two percentage points, with the government now working toward its gradual elimination.
The announcement drew a warm welcome from industrialists who have long argued that the Super Tax places an extra burden on a sector already facing heavy taxation. The FBR chief also revealed that a dedicated FBR office will be set up at KATI to make it easier for local industrialists to handle tax matters, and that the reach of the FBR help desk will be extended from Karachi to Sukkur to serve taxpayers beyond the provincial capital.
Beyond the Super Tax, Langrial said the government will consult industrialists on simplifying procedures for importing industrial raw materials. He also committed to holding meetings aimed at resolving the cross-border trade difficulties faced by the leather industry, and noted that a new model is under consideration to strengthen the Track and Trace system in the pharmaceutical sector. The chairman urged the business community to work with the government in curbing tax evasion.
KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan welcomed the FBR chairman's monthly visits to Karachi and pressed for simpler raw-material import procedures. He also raised the issue of billions of rupees in pending tax refunds, asking that the amounts be released within the stipulated timeframe. Industrialist leader Zubair Chhaya proposed appointing an FBR focal person at KATI to help businesses resolve tax-related issues, and called for a review of unnecessary Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) and existing tax laws to ease the burden on the business community.
Industrialists further urged the government to introduce a one-window operation to streamline business requirements and improve coordination with government departments. They stressed that the tax base should be broadened rather than placing additional financial burdens on existing taxpayers. The proposals reflect long-standing demands from the business community for a simpler, more predictable tax environment as the government seeks to boost revenue collection and support industrial growth.
