Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized the crucial role of digitizing Pakistan’s tax system in modernizing tax collection, enhancing transparency, and boosting revenue growth during a recent meeting with Jason Lamb, Deputy Director of Focus Country Implementation at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The meeting, held to discuss ongoing digitalization efforts, was also attended by Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik, Member Reforms of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the CEO of Karandaaz.
During the discussions, Finance Minister Aurangzeb expressed his gratitude for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s support, particularly for engaging McKinsey & Co. in the digitalization efforts of the FBR. He highlighted the need for significant improvements in existing data sources to leverage them effectively for tax purposes, underscoring that a modernized tax system is pivotal for Pakistan’s economic growth.
Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik addressed the challenges faced in implementing RAAST, Pakistan’s instant payment system, and explored potential enhancements to its functionality. He emphasized the importance of overcoming these obstacles to ensure the system’s success and its role in facilitating efficient digital transactions across the country.
