FBR emphasizes the importance of digitalization and seeks private sector collaboration
Islamabad, June 21, 2023 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced on Wednesday that it has issued approximately Rs540 billion worth of invoices through the Point of Sale (POS) system in the span of one year.
This announcement was made by Director General Automation Abdul Wahid during the second day of the “Digitalization of Taxes in Pakistan” workshop, jointly organized by the FBR and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
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Addressing the workshop participants, Abdul Wahid highlighted that around 50 million invoices are being issued on a monthly basis. He emphasized the need to continuously improve and expand the POS system to enhance its effectiveness.
The FBR official noted that Pakistan lags behind in terms of technology adoption compared to other developed countries. He expressed the FBR’s commitment to simplifying tax-related matters and making the tax system more user-friendly. He urged the private sector to collaborate and contribute their efforts to improve the system while minimizing loopholes.
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Abdul Wahid stressed the importance of learning from the experiences of other countries in digitalizing their tax systems and implementing their reforms to make taxation easier and more convenient for the people. He expressed appreciation for UNESCAP’s support in sharing valuable information on digitalization.
Furthermore, he highlighted the FBR’s ongoing engagement with international experts, emphasizing that the organization receives support in overcoming any difficulties encountered during the process.
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During the workshop, foreign experts provided insights on e-withholding tax and discussed the challenges and complexities associated with its implementation. The conference also explored the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance POS systems.
This workshop serves as the first step towards the digitalization of the tax system in Pakistan, as the FBR seeks to leverage global expertise and experiences to pave the way for a more efficient and technologically advanced tax administration.
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