In a latest bid to identify tax evaders, Pakistan’s tax authorities has launched an AI-powered “Lifestyle Monitoring Cell” to track high-net-worth individuals, influencers, and professionals whose public displays of wealth don’t align with their declared income.
Operated by the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Intelligence and Investigation Wing, the initiative monitors platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn to detect potential tax evasion.
FBR official Hamid Attique Sarwar said that around 4 million potential evaders have been identified through digital surveillance, physical surveys, and media monitoring.
Of these, about 400,000 are under active review. The AI system builds digital profiles, cross-checks them with tax records, and compiles reports for further investigation under Pakistan’s tax and anti–money laundering laws.
The campaign aligns with Pakistan’s broader effort to raise tax revenue under a $7 billion IMF program. For 2025–26, the government targets a record Rs14.13 trillion ($47.4 billion) in tax collection.
Sarwar emphasized the goal is not to punish wealth but ensure fairness: “We don’t hate rich people. We just want everyone to contribute.” Over 8 million warning messages have been sent, urging voluntary compliance. The FBR is now also investigating celebrities, fashion icons, and artists whose luxurious lifestyles raise red flags against their reported incomes.
