Punjab moves to modernise taxation system

LAHORE: The Punjab government is planning to revamp its tax system using cutting-edge digital tools, according to the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) and the World Bank. The two entities have agreed to broaden the tax base and enhance revenue collection. A delegation from the World Bank, headed by Regional Director Michael Roggi and Manager Sylvia Solf, met with PRA Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra to explore ways to modernize the province's tax administration.

Both parties agreed to leverage digital databases, launch the digital economy enhancement project, and examine international taxation best practices. Sipra emphasized that digital tools would enable the inclusion of new businesses in the tax system and called for the integration of data from various government departments to make tax collection more transparent and efficient.

"Digital data will aid in detecting tax evasion, misappropriation, and inconsistencies in business records," he stated. With technical and financial assistance from the World Bank, the PRA and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will collaborate on a detailed plan for digital tax reforms. "A practical roadmap for tax reforms will be developed with the technical assistance of the World Bank," Sipra concluded.