On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Rs. 5 million award and presented a commendatory shield to Ijaz Hussain, an officer of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), for his role in identifying a sales tax fraud worth trillions of rupees.

During a meeting at the PM House, the prime minister praised Hussain for his dedication and integrity. According to a press release from the PM Office, this achievement is a result of the prime minister’s ongoing efforts to reform the FBR and combat tax evasion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that while there is no shortage of diligent and competent officers, their efforts must be recognized. He expressed satisfaction with the positive outcomes of the FBR reforms and urged for stricter measures against tax evaders and their accomplices, advocating for severe penalties.

He instructed the FBR to conduct a thorough investigation into the identified tax fraud and to hold the perpetrators accountable by engaging a highly skilled legal team.

During the briefing, it was revealed that the credentials of an 80-year-old woman were used in the sales tax fraud, which Ijaz Hussain uncovered on March 4 of this year. It was reported that Rs. 370 million had initially been transferred under the fraudulent scheme, and recovery efforts are underway following the arrest of the main culprit.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also directed the identification and punishment of any FBR officers who facilitated the fraud. He reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding the tax base, noting that FBR reforms and digitization efforts would help prevent similar offenses in the future.