FBR Suspends Sugar Sales, Targets Wealthy Taxpayers

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has halted the sale of sugar by domestic mills through its online portal, prompting fierce backlash from the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), which warned that the restriction could spark shortages and drive price surges.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the PSMA condemned the measure as unfairly targeting local producers, highlighting that imported sugar faces no such constraints. The association urged the government to permit unrestricted sugar sales by all mills to ensure market stability and foster fair competition.

A PSMA spokesperson cautioned that barring domestic mills from free sales would trigger a supply crunch, inevitably inflating prices, and stressed that the industry should not be held accountable for any resulting crisis.

Concurrently, the FBR has ramped up its oversight of wealthy individuals exhibiting lifestyles exceeding their declared means. Officials revealed that a social media monitoring team identified over 100,000 individuals showcasing opulent houses, luxury cars, jewellery, and extravagant weddings online.

According to FBR sources, these individuals’ tax records are now under intense scrutiny. The department will cross-reference last year’s returns with current filings, anticipating that 80 percent of declarations will face audits. Those flaunting wealth publicly must substantiate their income sources through revised tax submissions.

Authorities warned that failure to declare elevated annual income will lead to legal action, though individuals who proactively update their tax records in time will avoid immediate penalties.