Pakistan’s FBR Uncovers Over 20 Suspected Tax Evaders Displaying Lavish Lifestyles Online

ISLAMABAD: (Muhammad Saleem)

Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has identified more than 20 individuals suspected of large-scale tax evasion after reviewing their social media accounts showing luxury lifestyles, expensive vehicles, and frequent foreign travel — while declaring minimal income and assets in tax returns.

According to FBR’s Lifestyle Monitoring Cell, three major cases illustrate the scale of the discrepancies.

In one case, a man from southern Punjab reportedly owns 19 luxury vehicles worth over PKR 624 million, including high-end SUVs and sports cars, yet declared only one vehicle worth PKR 1 million in his 2020 tax filings.

Another case involves a digital content creator and travel vlogger who travelled extensively across Europe and the Middle East between 2020 and 2025 — including visits to Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and the UAE — but declared an annual income of only PKR 490,800 and assets worth PKR 1.09 million.

A third case concerns a member of a political family from southern Punjab, found to possess undeclared luxury assets worth PKR 180.5 million, including a Lexus LX 570 SUV, BMW i7 electric sedan, and Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike.

FBR sources say evidence was obtained through publicly available data, including Instagram content and vehicle registration records. The intelligence reports have been shared with regional tax offices, and legal proceedings for asset verification and tax recovery are underway.

Officials from the Lifestyle Monitoring Cell stated that investigations are ongoing and the identities of the individuals cannot be disclosed under tax confidentiality laws.