The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has assured that banks will not freeze accounts or block transactions of non-filers. This assurance was given by FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial during a session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance on Tuesday.

Chairman Langrial clarified that while banks are bound by privacy laws and do not share customer data, the FBR already has the legal authority to access relevant information from any institution for tax compliance purposes. He emphasized that the goal of these measures is to curb tax evasion without disrupting business transactions.

To enhance enforcement, the chairman revealed that the FBR has developed an algorithm to track tax evasion based on turnover. This system will be implemented gradually to ensure effective monitoring without causing operational disruptions.

During the session, a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) raised concerns about the potential impact of tighter monitoring on routine business operations, noting that daily cash transactions of Rs. 10-20 million are common. In response, Chairman Langrial reassured the committee that business transactions would not be restricted under the new measures.