The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has ordered electronic monitoring of packaged tea production across Pakistan to strengthen tax compliance and improve transparency.
Under the new directive, all registered tea manufacturers, blenders and packers must install electronic monitoring systems on their production lines. The order also covers businesses involved in toll and contract packing.
Unique Barcodes Required on Every Tea Pack
The FBR has directed companies to introduce unique, machine-readable barcodes for every packaged tea product.
Each distinct brand, blend, weight and packaging type must carry a separate barcode. Companies whose products lack compliant barcodes must introduce them within 15 days of the order.
Manufacturers must also register product details, including brand names, weight, packaging type, retail price and barcode information.
Any new product or change to an existing product must be registered at least seven days before packaging.
Real-Time Production Tracking
The monitoring system will use industrial barcode scanners and counting sensors installed on every packing line. Scanners will identify each product, while sensors will count individual packets after they are filled and sealed.
The system will record production figures according to each product’s stock-keeping unit (SKU) and transmit the information to the FBR.
The requirements cover black, green and flavoured tea, tea bags, instant tea, extracts and concentrates. Tea-based premixes containing milk powder or sugar are also included.
December 10 Deadline Announced
The FBR has set December 10, 2026, as the deadline for installing and activating the monitoring system. The tax authority has also directed relevant Inland Revenue officials to coordinate with manufacturers and authorised vendors to ensure timely implementation.
Under the order, registered businesses cannot dispatch packaged tea from their premises unless its production has been electronically monitored.
The move forms part of the government’s wider efforts to improve tax collection, prevent underreporting and bring greater transparency to Pakistan’s manufacturing sector.
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