Islamabad, October 24, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced ambitious plans to generate up to Rs 250 billion through a series of robust anti-smuggling initiatives, signaling a major crackdown on illicit trade. Rashid Mahmood, Chairman of the FBR, revealed a day earlier that the board has forwarded seven key summaries to the Prime Minister for approval. These proposals, part of the FBR’s comprehensive transformation plan, include two major initiatives specifically designed to combat the sale of smuggled goods and illicit cigarettes. The FBR is confident that these measures will yield between Rs 200 billion to Rs 250 billion in revenue. During his briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Mahmood highlighted that full implementation of these enforcement actions is expected by January 2025. Of the seven summaries, two directly focus on curbing smuggling activities, a critical component of the broader effort to reinforce economic oversight. One significant move involves empowering provincial authorities to take swift action against the sale of contraband items, particularly cigarettes and other high-demand smuggled goods. This expansion of enforcement responsibilities will be facilitated through amendments to the FBR’s rules, extending greater autonomy to provincial bodies. Mahmood acknowledged that the FBR’s limited workforce of just 100 officers makes coordinated efforts with provincial departments essential to combat the widespread nature of smuggling. Provincial enforcement of illicit sales will be key to success, particularly in…