Audit & Assurance
Statutory and group audit engagements for retail chains, marketplaces and DTC brands.
/ 09 — Industry focus
Retail & ecommerce.
Financial visibility, operational controls, taxation and advisory for modern retail businesses, ecommerce brands and consumer-focused enterprises — engineered for fast-moving consumer environments.
/ 02 — Overview
Visibility across every channel.
/ Context
Retail and ecommerce businesses operate in rapidly changing environments where inventory management, operational efficiency, taxation and financial visibility are critical to long-term success. We support retail businesses and ecommerce brands through audit, advisory, taxation, internal controls and process improvement tailored to fast-moving consumer environments.
Our professionals understand the operational complexities of retail operations and help organisations build scalable and efficient financial systems.
/ How we support
Operational visibility, channel by channel.
From ERP integrations to budgeting, forecasting and internal controls — practical solutions aligned with the evolving needs of modern retail and ecommerce businesses, balancing growth with compliance and financial discipline.
Omnichannel by design.
/ 03 — Capabilities
Our services for retail.
Comprehensive solutions
Inventory & Process Controls
Cycle counts, shrinkage controls and three-way match across SKUs and warehouses.
Tax Advisory & Compliance
Sales tax, provincial taxation and cross-border treatment for online retail flows.
Financial Reporting & MIS
IFRS reporting and MIS dashboards built around store, channel and SKU economics.
ERP & Ecommerce Systems Advisory
Selection and integration of ERP, POS and ecommerce stacks for unified operations.
Internal Audit
Risk-based internal audit across store, fulfilment, marketplace and head-office.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Annual budgets, rolling forecasts and demand-driven cash flow models.
Business Valuation
Brand, entity and transaction valuations for fundraises, exits and restructurings.
Risk Advisory
Enterprise, fraud, payment and operational risk frameworks for omnichannel retail.
Operational Reviews
Store, channel and category reviews to surface margin and performance levers.
/ 04 — Regulatory framework
Retail and ecommerce audit in Pakistan, in practice.
Audit and advisory for retail and ecommerce in Pakistan covers FBR POS Integration under SRO 1842(I)/2021, IFRS 15 revenue recognition across in-store and online channels, inventory cycle counts and shrinkage controls, provincial sales tax on ancillary services, and SBP rules on cross-border payment processors — calibrated for high-velocity, multi-channel operations.
FederalFBR for sales tax under the Sales Tax Act 1990, POS Integration under SRO 1842(I)/2021 for Tier-1 retailers, and withholding obligations; SECP for incorporated retailers; SBP for foreign-exchange compliance on cross-border receipts.
ProvincialSindh Revenue Board, Punjab Revenue Authority and others for sales tax on services consumed — courier, advertising, marketplace commissions, packaging — and provincial consumer-protection authorities on returns and warranty obligations.
Reporting standardsIFRS 15 (gift cards, loyalty programmes, marketplace agent-vs-principal, returns), IAS 2 (inventory at lower of cost and NRV with shrinkage adjustments), IFRS 9 (ECL on marketplace settlement receivables).
Common audit findings
Where retailers trip.
- 01Gross-versus-net presentation errors on marketplace and reseller revenue.
- 02POS Tier-1 invoice mismatches against the FBR online sales tax return.
- 03Returns and refund liabilities understated and not provisioned under IFRS 15.
- 04Inventory shrinkage tracked informally and not documented for impairment.
/ 05 — Frequently asked
Questions we hear from retail and ecommerce operators.
/ 01
What is FBR POS Integration and who must comply?
Under SRO 1842(I)/2021, Tier-1 retailers — large chain stores, restaurants and notified retail categories — must integrate their point-of-sale terminals with FBR's online system. Every sale invoice is transmitted to FBR in real time and carries a QR-code-bearing fiscal invoice. Non-integration attracts a sales tax adjustment of 60% on inputs claimed and substantial penalties under section 33 of the Sales Tax Act 1990.
/ 02
How is marketplace revenue presented — gross or net?
Under IFRS 15, the presentation depends on whether the platform acts as principal (gross) or agent (net) in the transaction. Indicators of principal status include primary responsibility for fulfilling the order, inventory risk, and discretion over pricing. A pure marketplace that connects buyers and sellers without inventory risk is typically an agent and presents only its commission as revenue.
/ 03
What sales tax applies to online sales in Pakistan?
Online sales of goods are subject to sales tax under the Sales Tax Act 1990 at the standard 18% rate unless covered by zero-rated or reduced-rate notifications. Services delivered electronically — digital subscriptions, ecommerce platform fees — fall under provincial sales tax regimes (SRB, PRA, KPRA, BRA), each with its own rate schedule. Cross-border digital services attract reverse-charge mechanics where applicable.
/ 04
How are foreign payment processors like Payoneer and Wise treated?
Foreign payment processors used by Pakistani ecommerce sellers fall under SBP foreign-exchange regulations. Receipts must ultimately be routed through SBP-authorised banking channels and reported on Form-E or the equivalent electronic remittance certificate. Direct retention of funds in foreign accounts outside Pakistan without SBP approval is restricted, and reconciliation between gateway statements and bank inwards is a common audit focus area.
/ 05
What inventory controls do auditors expect from retailers?
Auditors expect periodic and cycle counts, reconciliation of physical to system inventory, segregation of duties between receiving, storage and despatch, ABC-classified counting frequency for high-value SKUs, and a documented shrinkage policy. For online channels, controls extend to returns processing, refund-liability provisioning under IFRS 15, and reconciliation of marketplace settlements against fulfilled orders.