The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Corporate Tax Office Karachi has accused Nomi Ansari, a prominent Pakistani fashion designer, of sales tax fraud of approximately Rs 1.25 billion in an FIR lodged on April 23, 2025.
Early Career and International Acclaim
Ansari, who was born on October 23, 1976, in Karachi, has been internationally recognized for his daring and colorful bridal and occasion wear ever since he launched his label in 2001 after studying at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design.
Allegations of Financial Malpractice
Preliminary investigations suggest that his businesses were purportedly involved in financial crimes, including maintaining two sets of accounting records, foreign undeclared remittance routing through sham corporations, sales bypassing invoicing, and fictitious supporting documents that claimed tax reductions, thereby creating a tax liability shortfall of Rs 1.25 billion.
Raids on Factories and Boutiques
Following magistrate-approved search warrants, FBR teams took control of Ansari’s factory and retail stores situated in Mehran Town, Korangi, and DHA, freezing all ledgers, bank accounts, and relevant documents as evidence for the current investigation.
After the raids, the FBR was compelled to submit a detailed tax demand order issued due to government pressure. After being released, the FBR stated that this is just another stage of their polished plot to capture luxurious mercenary tax scam perpetrators and increase revenue collection.
Ansari is currently overseas but is due to be arrested and extradited under a red arrest warrant to face trial in the Customs and Taxation Court in Karachi, where his liabilities and potential penalties will be assessed.
FBR’s Stance on Tax Evasion
In February 2025, CTO Karachi was non-compliant with sales tax registration and mandatory POS integration rules; therefore, several of Ansari’s outlets as well as his factory were sealed. Those earlier enforcement actions foreshadowed the current FIR and reflect the FBR’s ongoing emphasis on retail transparency.
“We are pursuing all tax defaulters equally, regardless of stature, to protect the integrity of Pakistan’s tax system,” said one FBR official who spoke on the condition of anonymity and noted the standing orders from the FBR for regional offices to focus on taxpayers who can be shown to have significant revenue detriment if they are non-compliant.