FBR’s National Faceless Centre: Aurangzeb reviews implementation roadmap

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, chaired a meeting to review the implementation roadmap and operational readiness of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) National Faceless Centre, a key initiative under the new Tax Operating Model aimed at establishing a technology-enabled, centralised, and transparent framework for tax administration. The meeting received a detailed briefing on the implementation roadmap, including the establishment of the Project Management Unit (PMU), governance arrangements, technology development, operational preparedness, and the phased rollout strategy. Participants also outlined the key milestones identified for the pre-pilot, pilot, and implementation phases to ensure timely execution of the project. Aurangzeb appreciated the progress made in establishing the Project Management Unit and emphasised that effective coordination between operational and technology teams would be critical for successful implementation. He noted that the National Faceless Centre represents an important reform initiative to modernise tax administration through greater digitalisation, standardisation, and transparency. The meeting reviewed the governance framework supporting the new operating model including institutional arrangements for project oversight, risk management, and implementation monitoring. Participants also briefed the meeting on the development of the risk engine and the progress made in defining rules-based case selection for the faceless system. The Finance Minister emphasised the importance of a carefully designed pilot phase to validate the new operating model before its nationwide rollout. He underscored the need to ensure operational readiness, identify implementation challenges at an early stage, and incorporate lessons learned to support a smooth transition to the new system. Participants also discussed progress on technology development, business requirements, digital infrastructure, and system integration required for the National Faceless Centre. The meeting was informed that an agile implementation approach is being adopted to enable continuous collaboration between business and technology teams throughout the development process. Recognising the importance of protecting digital infrastructure, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasised that information security and data governance should remain integral to the implementation process. He underscored the need for continued investment in cybersecurity capabilities and secure digital infrastructure to safeguard taxpayer information and support the long-term sustainability of the new operating model. The Finance Minister also called for regular progress reviews to closely monitor implementation milestones, address emerging challenges in a timely manner, and ensure that the project remains on schedule. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of this important tax administration reform. The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) Mr. Faisal Sattar, Chief Revenue Domain Officer (CRDO) PRAL Zain Sahi, Director PMU Zia Agro, Director PMU Javed Iqbal, Additional Director PMU Sardar Omer Sharif, along with senior officials of the Finance Division. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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