The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has devised an extensive strategy to enroll new taxpayers, including those who have not previously filed income tax returns. This initiative involves integrating data with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
During a meeting presided over by Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, which focused on strategies to digitalize the national economy, it was emphasized that harnessing technology is essential for enhancing and fortifying revenue collection processes and fostering economic growth. The minister was briefed on the automation of FBR operations.
The chairman of FBR provided the minister with an update on the actions being taken to automate and bolster the FBR’s revenue collection system.
During the meeting, the caretaker finance minister stressed the vital importance of harnessing modern technology to digitize the national economy and optimize revenue collection. She emphasized that boosting tax revenue through technology and increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio ranks as the highest priority for the caretaker government.
She urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take immediate and decisive action to address the issue of the tax gap, urging the utilization of all available resources towards this objective. Akhtar reiterated the government’s commitment to modernizing fiscal systems in alignment with international best practices.
The minister emphasized the imperative of leveraging technology to fortify the country’s revenue collection mechanisms and spur economic growth. She underscored that automation is not merely a choice but a necessity to ensure transparency, accountability, and a favorable business environment in Pakistan.
The Minister of IT also discussed the availability of data from provincial and other state-owned entities.
It was decided that the FBR would promptly acquire accessible data from these entities and utilize it to identify tax gaps and target potential taxpayers who are currently outside the tax net. The FBR and the Ministry of IT resolved to collaborate closely and exert maximum efforts to digitize national data and broaden the tax base.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from all participating entities to exert dedicated efforts towards these objectives, aiming to enhance fiscal governance and bolster revenue collection.
Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications, Dr. Umar Saif, was also in attendance at the meeting, which was further attended by Chairman FBR, Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana, Members of the Board, and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the IT Division, and the Revenue Division.
