Washington: Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eradicating polio and implementing revenue reforms to minimize leakages and enhance compliance. These statements were made during his meeting with Dr. Kalpana Kochhar, President for Global Policy and Advocacy at the Gates Foundation, held on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Finance Minister briefed Dr. Kochhar on the ongoing reforms within the Federal Board of Revenue, emphasizing the government’s focus on digital transformation. The Prime Minister is personally overseeing this initiative, which targets financial inclusion, government payments, and the development of digital infrastructure. The Minister highlighted initiatives such as a digital Compliance Risk Management system, AI-led production monitoring, behavioral nudges via SMS, and specialized training for young officers in the Federal Board of Revenue.

The conversation also touched on polio eradication, which the Finance Minister described as a national priority that needs sustained systemic support. On financing for the polio vaccine, he outlined plans to leverage Pakistan’s strong ties with the Islamic Development Bank to secure further assistance. Both parties agreed on the importance of ongoing knowledge exchange and collaboration to strengthen their partnership.