Islamabad: The inaugural meeting of the Task Force on Digitalization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was held today at FBR Headquarters, signaling a significant move towards modernizing Pakistan’s tax systems for enhanced revenue generation and economic growth.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Mr. Ali Pervez Malik, and co-chaired by DG C41, Major General Syed Ali Raza. The session focused on outlining a strategic framework for the complete digitization of all FBR operations, a critical step identified by the government to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Key discussions centered on implementing advanced data automation, integrating systems, and deploying new technological solutions aimed at modernizing the tax agency.

The Task Force also set forth several immediate objectives, including the identification of quick wins in areas such as income tax, sales tax, customs duty, and collections, based on global best practices and existing data within FBR. Future efforts will involve broadening the tax base through robust data-sharing mechanisms among various stakeholders, including the integration of provincial and ministerial data systems.

To further these goals, four Working Groups were established, each tasked with developing specific recommendations for enhancing different segments of FBR’s digital infrastructure. These groups will present their findings at the next meeting scheduled for August 21, 2024, moving Pakistan closer to a more formalized and efficient economic framework.