KARACHI: Renowned fashion designer Nomi Ansari has been booked in a Rs1.25 billion sales tax fraud case, according to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The Corporate Tax Office (CTO) Karachi filed a formal FIR after initial investigations revealed significant evidence of tax evasion.
Acting on court-approved search warrants, FBR teams conducted raids on Ansari’s factory and several retail outlets located in Mehran Town, Korangi, and DHA. During the operations, financial documents and records were seized as part of the probe.
An official from the FBR stated, “A case involving Rs1.25 billion in sales tax fraud has been registered against Nomi Ansari. This is part of our nationwide crackdown against major tax defaulters.”
In addition to the FIR, a formal tax demand has been issued against Ansari. Sources confirm that the designer is currently out of the country and may face arrest upon his return to Pakistan. Authorities plan to present him before the Customs and Taxation Court once he is apprehended.
This is not Ansari’s first brush with tax authorities. In February, the CTO Karachi sealed several of his outlets for failing to comply with sales tax regulations and for not integrating their systems with the government’s Point-of-Sale (POS) network.
The case is part of a broader initiative by the FBR to intensify enforcement and ensure tax compliance among high-earning individuals and businesses. Regional tax offices across Pakistan have reportedly been directed to fast-track investigations and take decisive action against tax evaders.
As one of Pakistan’s most prominent fashion icons, Nomi Ansari’s legal troubles have drawn significant public attention, raising questions about financial transparency in the country’s luxury fashion industry.
Further developments are expected in the coming days as enforcement agencies continue to expand their operations.
