World Bank Vice President Commends FBR’s Tax Digitalization Initiatives

Islamabad, Mr. Martin Raiser, the Vice President of the World Bank, praised the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) efforts towards digitalizing tax administration during his visit to the FBR headquarters today. He met with Mr. Amjed Zubair Tiwana, Chairman of the FBR, and other senior officials to discuss advancements under the Pakistan Raises Revenue Project.

According to Press Information Department, the discussions centered around various initiatives aimed at modernizing the tax system, including the Harmonization of Sales Tax, implementation of a Track and Trace System, and improving FBR’s ICT capabilities. Mr. Raiser highlighted the potential benefits of these initiatives, particularly if they were supported by the elimination of tax exemptions over time and the introduction of consumption-based sales tax.

Chairman Tiwana elaborated on the collaborative efforts with stakeholders to make the tax system more inclusive and broad-based through digitalization. He argued that such reforms are crucial not only for increasing revenue but also for enabling informed decision-making within the FBR. The World Bank’s Vice President expressed strong support for these initiatives, viewing them as opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the FBR and enhance Pakistan’s economic governance.