Sugar Mills Ordered to Install Video Analytics as FBR Tightens Monitoring

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ordered all sugar mills in Pakistan to install advanced video analytics and GPU-based monitoring systems ahead of the upcoming crushing season, in a move aimed at ensuring transparent production tracking and meeting commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to an official notification, sugar manufacturers must now integrate real-time surveillance technology with the FBR’s digital monitoring system. Mills will not be permitted to operate without these systems in place. The FBR said the new requirements mark a significant step toward improving transparency and tax compliance in the sugar industry, with production data to be tracked directly by the tax authority. Officials noted that the installation of GPU-based monitoring devices is now mandatory, and all systems must be fully integrated with the FBR’s video analytics platform to ensure accurate, tamper-proof data collection. The initiative is part of a broader effort to digitize production monitoring across key industrial sectors and reduce underreporting. In a parallel move, the FBR has also tightened electronic monitoring in the cement industry. Starting November 1, no cement shipments will be allowed without official tax stamps, following the successful rollout of the Track and Trace System. Each cement bag must now carry a unique ID marking, enabling real-time verification and preventing the sale of untaxed goods. The FBR emphasized that this rule applies to all manufacturers without exception.