Islamabad, July 20, 2023 – The Country Director of the World Bank, Najy Benhassine, and the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Asim Ahmad, held a meeting at the FBR Headquarters to evaluate the progress of the Pakistan Raises Revenue (PRR) Program during the last financial year.
The World Bank team, comprising Operations Manager Gailius Draugelis, Lead Country Economist Tobias Haque, Senior Economist Lucy Pan, Public Sector Specialist Irum Touqeer, and Manager Shabih Ali Mohib, joined the meeting to discuss the accomplishments of the PRR Program. Member Reforms, FBR, Ardesher Tariq, and other members of the project team were also present during the meeting.
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It was highlighted that significant strides were made over the past four years under the PRR Program, particularly in the areas of sustainable revenue mobilization, taxpayer facilitation, and reducing the cost of doing business.
One of the landmark achievements praised during the meeting was the harmonization of Sales Tax laws and procedures among provinces and the federal government, which benefited taxpayers and all revenue authorities alike.
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The reduction in withholding tax lines from 58 to 33, the increase in imports and exports through the green channel from 35% to 66%, and the broadening of the tax base were among other key accomplishments that contributed to enhancing the business environment in Pakistan.
Participants stressed the importance of achieving the next objective of launching a Single Portal to facilitate Sales Tax Return filing, aiming to further streamline tax procedures and enhance taxpayer convenience.
Transparency and accountability were also highlighted as areas of focus, with the FBR being commended for publishing detailed tax expenditure reports to promote transparency in the tax system.
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Both the FBR and the World Bank pledged to continue their efforts to upgrade the IT infrastructure and automation of the FBR, ensuring the timely completion of project targets. Asim Ahmad expressed high appreciation for the dedication and contributions made by the teams from both sides.
The Country Director of the World Bank, Najy Benhassine, praised the progress made and labeled the harmonization of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the flagship achievement of the FBR.
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A commitment to continued cooperation was affirmed by both parties, aiming to pursue the reform agenda under the PRR Program to further strengthen Pakistan’s revenue collection and foster economic growth.
