Pakistan’s tax authorities have opened a new front in their battle to plug leaks in revenue collection: social media. Diamond-studded bridal sets, drone light shows and extravagant parties have become evidence for a newly created “Lifestyle Monitoring Cell” that is trawling Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to flag people living far beyond their declared means.

A senior official at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told Reuters the new approach relies on open-source intelligence. “It’s open-source – their Instagram accounts are a public declaration,” the official said, adding that tax evasion cases can now be opened “in a matter of hours.” The FBR itself did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

A digital hunt for hidden wealth

The cell, staffed with around 40 investigators, was se

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