Inside Pakistan’s dirty economy
Black money, fake invoices, smuggling thrives outside the tax net
In this pre-budget special of On My Radar, Kamran Khan sits down with Shabbar Zaidi, former FBR chairman and one of Pakistan’s top tax minds, to unravel the truth behind the undocumented economy—or what many now boldly call the “Chor Economy”.
From fake invoicing to gold smuggling, real estate manipulation to agri-tax evasion, this podcast dives deep into how an economy as large as the documented sector thrives outside the tax net.
With Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio stuck near 10%, the state is running out of room to fund basic governance.
Why do millions operate in cash? Who enables this black economy? And what real steps must the government take in Budget 2025–26 to finally bring this rogue economy into the light?
Watch the full video to understand why Pakistan can’t move forward without confronting its shadow system.
Catch Kamran Khan live on Tuesday, June 10th and 11th, for an in-depth analysis of the Budget FY26.
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