— Says transparency in economy through digitization is govt’s top priority
— Directs establishing helpline to assist with process of filing tax returns
— In tax reforms, focus should remain on convenience of common man: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that expanding the tax base and reducing the burden of taxes on the poor were among the top priorities of the government.
He was chairing a meeting here to review progress on the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the implementation of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system, and other reforms.
Hailing the availability of simple tax returns in Urdu, the prime minister said a helpline should be established to assist with the process of filing tax returns and digital invoicing should also be launched in Urdu. “In tax reforms, the focus should remain on the convenience of the common man,” he added.
The prime minister directed that third-party validation be ensured for all FBR reforms to maintain transparency. He stated that for the public’s convenience, tax returns have been made extremely easy by making them digital, concise, and linked with a centralized database. He said salaried individuals will benefit the most from the new simplified tax returns.
The prime minister instructed that a public awareness campaign should be launched about the ease of tax returns so more and more people can file their returns under the new system.
He also praised the finance minister, the economic team, the FBR chairman, and their teams, saying that the positive results of tax reforms are the outcome of their tireless efforts.
“For the first time in the country’s history, the implementation of an AI-based tax assessment system is a big success, and the FBR’s initiatives are commendable.”
He also instructed that small and medium-sized businesses should be given special support in joining the digital invoicing system.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Chief Coordinator Mosharraf Zaidi, the Chairman FBR, and other senior officials.
The participants were briefed on progress related to digital invoicing, e-bilty, simplified tax returns, the AI-based assessment system, the establishment of a central command and control center, and the cargo tracking system.
It was informed that bidding for the FBR command and control unit will be completed soon, and the system will be fully functional by September. This will not only provide centralized data but also help in decision-making.
The meeting was also informed about the AI-based assessment system. Traders are now allowed to submit advance goods declarations before the arrival of ships. Under this, they will get full exemption on upfront duties and taxes. With this system, the percentage of advance goods declarations is expected to rise from 3% to over 95%. This will also allow containers with advance declarations to be delivered directly from the port to factories.
Regarding digital invoicing, the meeting was told that now all businesses, both large and small, will be required to issue receipts at the time of sale through the FBR’s online system. Around 20,000 businesses are expected to join this system in the coming months. In just one month, 8,000 invoices amounting to 11.6 billion rupees were issued through this system.
This system includes a taxpayer portal and a monitoring dashboard. It was shared that businesses can join the system free of cost through PRAL (Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd.). Training is also being given to traders. Once fully implemented, there will be no need to submit sales tax returns separately, as all transactions will be automatically recorded in the system.
Additionally, the internationally recognized 8-digit HS Code will help eliminate fake and flying invoices. Digital invoicing will also make it easier to assess the performance of the sales tax system. Business training sessions are being held to make the system effective.
The meeting was informed that simplified digital tax returns will be launched from July 15 for salaried individuals and from July 30 for other taxpayers. Urdu-language returns for salaried individuals will also be available by July 30. The process of filling out the new simplified tax returns was explained in detail.
The meeting was also briefed about the progress of the cargo tracking system and e-bilty system.
It was explained that the system will allow real-time monitoring of the movement of goods and tax payment tracking. AI-based assessment will also be possible through this, which will make tax enforcement more effective and efficient.
To ensure international standards for this system’s implementation in Pakistan, assistance is being taken from Turkiye.
After the the prime minister’s meeting with th Turkish President during his recent visit to Azerbaijan, a Turkish delegation has arrived in Pakistan and is working with local authorities to implement the system soon.
Transparency in economy through digitization is govt’s top priority: PM
Prime Minister also said top priority of the government was to bring transparency in the economy through digitization system.
He was chairing the weekly meeting on cashless and digital economy.
He said digitization of the payment mechanism from government to people and people to government will create transparency and ease for consumers.
He directed that the steps of digitization and cashless economy should be made easier for small and medium entrepreneurs.
He said the appointment of the Board of Governors and Chairman of Raast should be completed by September.
Experts of economy and business should be included in the Board of Directors of Raast, he added.
The prime minister said all State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) should also be brought under the purview of the digital system.
He directed that the progress towards digital economy should be accelerated further.
The meeting was briefed on the progress made in introducing cashless and digital economy.
It was told that Raast has advertised for the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer.
The number of users using mobile phone applications and digital banking will increase from 95 million to 120 million. Digital payments will increase from Rs 7.5 billion to Rs 15 billion.
A nationwide public awareness campaign on Raast and digital payments will be launched next month. While import duty on digital payment devices was abolished.
The meeting was told that Digital Payments Index was being launched within a month to bring the economy at par with developed countries.
CDA Board had approved right-of-way for digital public infrastructure in Islamabad.
It was told that the remittance system was also being digitized and all funds coming from foreign countries will be received through the banking system.
The governments of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also being partnered with on digital payments. Islamabad City mobile phone application had been linked with Raast.
Public Wi-Fi and e-libraries at designated locations in Islamabad will be completed by December 2025.
As per the Prime Minister’s directive, third-party validation of digital public infrastructure will also be done and preliminary work was being completed in this regard.
The State Bank of Pakistan has given necessary instructions to the federal government, provincial governments and regulatory bodies regarding the adoption of QR codes as an important payment method.
On the directives of the Prime Minister, the number of commercial points using QR codes and other digital payment methods was being increased from 500,000 to two million.
Consultations were underway with all federal ministries, divisions, affiliated departments, regulatory authorities, provincial departments and district governments on a strategy to digitize the system of tax and non-tax payments from the government institutions to the public and from the public to the government and to link it to Raast.
In the first phase, all data on payments between the federal government and the provincial governments had been acquired and consultations were underway to convert all these payments into 100 percent digital.
In the first phase of introduction of a cashless economy, salaries, pensions of government employees and payments for purchases and sales from contractors will be made completely digitally.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr. Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and relevant senior government officials attended the meeting.
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