Islamabad: Pakistan’s tax authorities are intensifying efforts to detect undeclared wealth by monitoring social media activity, with a specialised unit of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) analysing online posts to identify individuals whose lifestyles appear inconsistent with their declared income.
Operating from Islamabad, the FBR’s “lifestyle monitoring cell” reviews platforms such as Instagram, examining posts that showcase luxury travel, expensive vehicles, designer clothing and lavish events. In one instance, officials reportedly reconstructed the estimated cost of an extravagant wedding that they believe far exceeded the taxpayer’s reported earnings.
FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial said many individuals publicly display signs of wealth online while underreporting income in official filings, making social media a useful tool for identifying potential tax discrepancies.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to increase Pakistan’s tax revenues, which remain among the lowest in the region, and to address mounting fiscal pressures. The unit is particularly targeting influencers, celebrities and high-profile individuals whose declared income does not appear to match their visible lifestyle.
Launched in September and staffed by around 30 officers, the cell has already issued a number of preliminary reports. Officials estimate that the first batch of cases alone could result in tax recoveries of up to Rs2.5 billion.
According to authorities, the programme draws on similar enforcement approaches used in countries such as Malaysia and South Africa, where social media analysis has been employed to detect tax evasion and improve compliance.
