Only 50 retailers register with FBR

Less than 50 retailers have so far voluntarily registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and only two weeks remaining before the deadline expires, underscoring the challenges facing the government in registering all retailers in six major cities. Despite a mass campaign and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s focus on expanding the tax net to include traders, the government’s drive has thus far been unsuccessful. FBR sources reported that during the first two weeks of the campaign, fewer than 50 traders registered voluntarily. This figure reflects the poor performance of the government and does not align with the resolve of PM Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to bring traders into the tax net. The registration scheme is viewed as the ruling party’s initial test of political will to broaden the narrow tax base. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif heads a fragile coalition government, which could also pose challenges in making politically tough economic decisions.