Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb Discusses Digitalization Initiatives with Gates Foundation Representative in Islamabad

Islamabad, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with Mr. Jason Lamb, Deputy Director of Focus Country Implementation at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, at the Finance Division today.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting also included Minister of State Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik, a Member of Reforms from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the CEO of Karandaaz.

During the discussions, Minister Aurangzeb expressed gratitude towards the Gates Foundation for their role in facilitating the partnership with McKinsey and Co. for the digital transformation of the FBR. He highlighted the critical role of e-governance in modernizing Pakistan’s tax system, which is expected to increase transparency and enhance revenue collection. Further, he pointed out the need for improving existing data sources to optimize them for tax purposes effectively.

Minister of State Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik addressed the challenges in implementing RAAST, Pakistan’s instant payment system, and discussed potential enhancements to its functionality. The meeting concluded with a unified commitment from all parties to continue their collaborative efforts towards the successful implementation of these digital initiatives.