Effective government measures against the smuggling of petroleum products have resulted in a remarkable eighty-two percent revenue increase from July to November 2025, compared to the corresponding period last year, a high-level meeting was informed in Islamabad on Friday.
The details emerged during a weekly review meeting on the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He ordered authorities to intensify the nationwide crackdown on tax evasion and smuggling, asserting that no leniency will be shown in this regard.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the nation suffers annual losses worth billions of rupees due to illicit trade. He added that curbing this menace has successfully diverted several commodities into legal import channels, thereby integrating them into the documented economy.
Officials briefed the meeting that a country-wide integrated customs system has been implemented to prevent smuggling. Furthermore, a GPS tracking system for the transportation of petroleum products is now operational to ensure supply chain integrity.
In a related move, the Prime Minister instructed provincial governments to provide their full cooperation to the FBR in pursuing legal action against illegal petrol pumps. The meeting was apprised that petrol pumps across the nation have been registered via the Rahguzar App, with legal proceedings against unauthorized outlets ongoing.
Under the new Petroleum Act, district administrations have been granted enhanced powers to confiscate illegal machinery, further strengthening the enforcement mechanism against unauthorized fuel sales.
The Prime Minister commended the FBR and Pakistan Customs for their successful operations. It was noted that a crackdown over the past five months on the illicit trade of cigarettes, tyres, garments, electronics, and other goods has also contributed to a significant rise in national revenue.