The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to launch a massive nationwide recovery campaign against tax evaders.

In the first phase of the drive, a list of 11,000 people from major cities such as Lahore and Karachi has been prepared.

The list includes industrialists, mill owners, large traders, property dealers, wholesalers and stockists.

The FBR officials said that despite being billionaires, the tax was being paid only by a few hundred thousand people annually.

The list includes people from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan.

The bureau claims to have solid evidence against the tax defaulters.

The comprehensive list of approximately 11,000 individuals, who have defaulted on their tax obligations, has been duly conveyed to the relevant tax jurisdictions and field offices. This step has been taken in accordance with the pertinent legal provisions for the initiation of recovery proceedings.

The FBR is committed to adhering to all necessary legal protocols prior to resorting to more stringent actions, such as the potential arrest of the defaulters. Before doing so, the individuals will be afforded the opportunity to respond to any official notices that are duly served upon them.

It is worth noting that the bureau has already commenced the process of recovering outstanding dues from affluent individuals who have shown reluctance to fulfilling their Capital Value Tax (CVT) obligations concerning their foreign assets situated abroad.

In cases where these individuals failed to meet their CVT obligations, the board has had to employ assertive measures.

Subsequently, the FBR has issued orders against 200 high-net-worth individuals who did not respond to multiple notices.