ISLAMABAD: The Vice President of World Bank Martin Raiser visited the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) HQ Wednesday and met Amjed Zubair Tiwana, Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division. Raiser was accompanied by Najy Benhassine, Country Director, Gailius J Draugelis, Operations Manager, Tobias Akhtar Haque Lead Country Economist, Irum Touqeer, Public Sector Specialist. Ardsher Saleem Tariq, Member (Reforms and Modernization) and Karamatullah Khan Chaudhry Member (Digital Initiative) also attended the meeting.

A detailed presentation on the FBR and its reforms agenda was made with special focus on initiatives under Pakistan Raises Revenue Project for Harmonization of Sales Tax, Track & Trace System, and improving ICT capacities of the FBR. Martin Raiser, Vice President of the World Bank was appreciative of the FBR’s policy for digitalized tax administration and emphasized that these initiatives will bear even greater fruits if coupled with elimination of exemptions overtime through a combination of social assistance and introduction of sales tax based on consumption.

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The Chairman FBR added that the FBR is working closely with all the stakeholders on the digitalization initiative and making tax administration more broad-based. He added that digitalization is not only important for revenue but for enabling FBR to make informed decisions for sustainable increase in the revenues. Mr. Martin Riser echoed the sentiments of Chairman FBR and indicated that World Bank sees the current digitalization drive as an opportunity to strengthen its cooperation with the FBR.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024