Mohsin Siddiqui (Chief Reporter) 

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken a serious stance on the absence of crucial sugar data in a recent presentation and has instructed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Division to provide comprehensive data within a week.

During a meeting on April 26, 2024, the Prime Minister expressed disappointment over the performance of the FBR and the ineffective implementation of the Track and Trace system, which was introduced in 2019 to combat tax evasion in sectors like tobacco, sugar, and fertilizer. He criticized the system’s failure to generate anticipated revenue due to poor implementation and mismanagement, attributing it to collusion, negligence, and fraud.

Highlighting significant revenue losses and wasted opportunities, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for accountability and announced the formation of a committee chaired by the Minister for Finance to investigate the FBR’s negligence.

The Prime Minister also briefed the Cabinet on sectoral reviews of wheat and sugar, noting a bumper wheat crop and directing an inquiry into wheat imports during the caretaker government’s tenure. Additionally, he instructed the National Food Security and Research Division to explore sugar exports cautiously, ensuring domestic needs are met without affecting prices.

Further discussions revolved around performance audits of airport services, facilitation of cargo exports, and the formulation of a “Drone Policy” to be presented to the Cabinet in May. The Cabinet also directed all Ministries to submit cases to the ‘Cabinet Committee on SOEs’ for consideration of strategic status.