FBR discusses $400m tax automation programme with World Bank

ISLAMABAD – Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman, Asim Ahmed has discussed $ 400 million program for domestic resource mobilisation through the automation of tax collection processes with the Work Bank. The World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, Najy Benhassine called on Chairman FBR Asim Ahmad for an introductory meeting, following his recent appointment as the FBR chairman, said a press release issued by FBR here. Both the heads discussed the World Bank sponsored reforms program ‘Pakistan Raises Revenue’, which is a $ 400 million program for automation of tax collection processes and the simplification of tax compliance procedures. The chairman gave an update on the progress of the reforms agenda covering 10 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) and also shared concerns regarding the difficulties being encountered in progress on reform interventions involving data sharing with provinces and the Sindh High Court stay on the Track and Trace process. Member Reforms, Ambreen Iftikhar, and Raymond Muhulla, World Bank’s Team Lead on ‘Pakistan Raises Revenue’ were also present in the meeting. It was decided that the FBR reforms team would give a detailed presentation to Najy regarding the impediments being faced by FBR, especially with regard to component 1 of the reforms program, covering $ 320 million. The Federal Board of Revenue is on track regarding most of the DLIs and has made good progress on automation of key business processes and signing of MoUs with various authorities for sharing of data. The Country Director World Bank has agreed to look into the concerns raised by the chairman FBR over matters, which are beyond the scope of FBR’s administrative authority.