PRA, World Bank Agree on Advanced Digital Systems to Expand Punjab’s Tax Base
By Muhammad Shahzad, Lahore LAHORE: A delegation of the World Bank, comprising Regional Director Michael Roggi, Manager Sylvia Solf and other officials, held a meeting with Chairman Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Moazzam Iqbal Sipra to discuss the modernization and digital transformation of Punjab’s tax system. The meeting focused on measures to enhance tax collection through…
By Muhammad Shahzad, Lahore
LAHORE: A delegation of the World Bank, comprising Regional Director Michael Roggi, Manager Sylvia Solf and other officials, held a meeting with Chairman Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) Moazzam Iqbal Sipra to discuss the modernization and digital transformation of Punjab’s tax system.
The meeting focused on measures to enhance tax collection through digital databases, strengthen tax administration and expand the province’s tax base under the Digital Economy Enhancement Project.
The participants agreed to benefit from modern tax models and international best practices adopted by different countries to improve revenue collection and tax compliance.
“Digital tools will be utilized to expand the tax base and bring new businesses into the tax net,” Chairman PRA Moazzam Iqbal Sipra said.
The meeting also discussed integrating data from different government departments to develop a more effective and transparent tax collection system.
Sipra said digital data would help identify tax evasion, discrepancies and irregularities in business records, enabling the authorities to improve tax monitoring and enforcement.
The World Bank delegation emphasized further strengthening PRA’s digital monitoring and tax administration systems.
With technical assistance and funding support from the World Bank, the PRA and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will jointly develop a working plan for digital tax reforms.
“Modern technology will enable more effective utilization of data relating to tax returns, payments and business activities,” Sipra said.
He added that modern technology and data analytics would be promoted in Punjab’s tax system in line with international standards.
“A practical roadmap for tax reforms will be developed with the technical assistance of the World Bank,” the PRA chairman added.
