KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chief Langrial urged exporters to expand the presence of Pakistani products in international markets, as industry leaders raised concerns over complicated regulations, digital invoicing difficulties and the tax burden on already compliant businesses.

During a meeting with a delegation from the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), led by its president, Sheikh Umer Rehan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial called on exporters to make effective use of available resources to increase national exports.

He said the FBR would soon hold meetings with major exporters to review their concerns, identify obstacles to export growth and take necessary measures to address them.

The FBR chairman also said the authority was pursuing tax system digitalisation and automated mechanisms to bring non-filers into the tax net.

Kati flags costly regulations, digital invoicing; Langrial pledges action on concerns

Mr Rehan, however, said digitalisation of the tax system was essential, but practical difficulties faced by industries during the implementation of digital invoicing needed to be resolved.

He called on the government to provide businesses with proper guidance and technical assistance and establish effective coordination mechanisms to address implementation challenges. He said tax transparency should be strengthened without disrupting industrial and commercial activities.

Mr Rehan also stressed that broadening the tax base required bringing all individuals and businesses legally liable to pay taxes into the system. The tax burden, he said, should not remain concentrated on already compliant businesses.

He called on authorities to identify untaxed sectors and ensure uniform enforcement of tax laws across all relevant segments. The Kati president also highlighted tax and duty-related issues affecting industries in the Korangi Industrial Area, particularly the ghee and edible oil sector.

He urged the government to review unnecessary statutory regulatory orders (SROs) and complicated regulatory requirements that obstruct business operations and increase production costs. Such rules, he said, should be simplified and made practical to improve the competitiveness of local industries.

Responding to the delegation’s concerns, Mr Langrial assured its members that necessary steps would be taken to resolve the issues.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2026