Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb held a meeting with Mr Jason Lamb, Deputy Director, Focus Country Implementation of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation here at the Finance Division on Monday.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik, Member Reforms Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and CEO Karandaaz, according to a press release.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister conveyed his appreciation for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations for their support in engaging McKinsey and Co. for the ongoing digitalization of FBR.

He emphasized the significant potential of e-governance in Pakistan, noting that the digitization of the tax system is a pivotal step towards modernizing tax collection, which will enhance transparency and revenue growth.

Muhammad Aurangzeb also mentioned the necessary improvements required in existing data sources to effectively utilize them for tax purposes.

The Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik discussed the implementation challenges of RAAST, Pakistan’s instant payment system, and ways to improve its functionality.

The meeting concluded with a strong note of commitment from all parties involved to continue working together towards these goals.