Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced a five million rupees cash award in recognition of a senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officer’s services for preventing a tax fraud attempt.

He was talking to the FBR officers, who called on him here in Islamabad on Thursday. The Prime Minister appreciated performance of the FBR officers for detecting sales tax fraud in the country.

He was briefed that particulars of an 80-year-old woman were used for sales tax fraud. It was told that FBR officer Aijaz Hassan identified this tax fraud attempt in March this year.

Initially, 370 million rupees were transferred in this attempt and the process for its recovery is underway. It was said the main suspect involved in this tax fraud attempt has been arrested.

Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the positive outcomes of FBR reforms and the campaign against tax fraud, which is evident from the timely action by FBR Officer Aijaz Hussain against an attempt of a trillion-rupee sales tax fraud.

Besides announcing the cash reward, he also presented a shield to Aijaz Hussain for his dedication towards the duty. The Prime Minister said after detailed investigations, those responsible for tax fraud should be brought to the justice.

He instructed the FBR to engage the best legal team to get punished those involved in tax fraud and their accomplices. He said complete digitization and reforms in the FBR will help prevent such kind of tax fraud in future.

The Prime Minister said the government is taking priority measures to increase tax base to for economic development of the country.