In response to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demands to broaden the tax base and increase revenue, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started receiving detailed data from the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) on affluent individuals who are not currently paying taxes.

According to sources, NADRA has provided the FBR with comprehensive information on 195,000 wealthy Pakistanis outside the tax net. This data includes details on bank accounts, property ownership, and luxury vehicle registrations, which will be used to identify and target these individuals for tax collection, as their extravagant lifestyles suggest significant income levels.

There is substantial evidence indicating that these high-income individuals are not meeting their tax obligations. Earlier this month, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial highlighted that not even the top 5 percent of the wealthiest population is filing taxes.

In July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the FBR to incorporate wealthy individuals into the tax net. Now, under IMF pressure and after multiple attempts, NADRA has started sharing private data of affluent individuals with the FBR. This initiative aims to enforce tax regime enhancement measures and boost tax revenue in the current quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25.