Washington, D.C.: In a recent meeting held on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, engaged with Dr. Kalpana Kochhar of the Gates Foundation to discuss pressing issues such as polio eradication and digital reforms in Pakistan.

According to Press Information Department, Senator Aurangzeb reiterated the strong partnership between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation, initially established in a meeting with Bill Gates at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He emphasized that eradicating polio remains a national priority requiring sustained systemic support. The minister also briefed Dr. Kochhar on the ongoing efforts to transform Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), focusing on reducing revenue leakages and enhancing compliance.

The meeting highlighted Pakistan’s digital transformation programme, personally overseen by the Prime Minister, with key components including digitization and financial inclusion, government payments, and digital infrastructure. The Finance Minister detailed reforms within the FBR, such as a digital Compliance Risk Management system, AI-led production monitoring, behavioral nudges via SMS, and training programs for young officers. These efforts aim to institutionalize reforms within the government.

Concerns were raised regarding polio vaccine financing, as current funding is only assured through June-July, potentially disrupting efforts. The minister expressed Pakistan’s intent to seek additional support through its bilateral relationship with the Islamic Development Bank.

The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing on the importance of continuous learning and knowledge exchange to strengthen their partnership.