ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been given sweeping new powers to monitor citizens’ internet activities and phone records in its fight against tax fraud.
Telecom companies, internet providers, and PTAs will now legally have to hand over customer data whenever the FBR demands it.
Tax authorities can access subscribers’ names, call logs, technical usage information, and import or export records related to investigations. Officials claim that these measures will help uncover hidden digital money trails and prevent tax evasion.
The new law allows the FBR to bring in private auditors and technical experts to help with investigations. These experts are bound by strict confidentiality, but the move raises concerns over personal privacy.
Officials insist that the data will be used for purely legal purposes and have warned that anyone leaking taxpayer information will face serious legal consequences. They say the updated powers will provide the FBR with unprecedented tools to uncover tax fraud while balancing it with citizens’ privacy.
