Punjab moves to modernise taxation system

Business Recorder reported that the Punjab government plans to overhaul its tax system with advanced digital tools, in partnership with the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) and the World Bank. Both sides have agreed on steps to widen the tax base and strengthen revenue collection across the province. A World Bank team, headed by regional director Michael Roggi and manager Sylvia Solf, held talks with PRA chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra on updating provincial tax administration.

The agreed measures include making better use of digital databases, rolling out a digital economy enhancement project and studying global tax practices. Sipra said digital systems can bring new enterprises into the tax net, and he stressed that data held by different government departments must be combined to make collection more transparent and efficient. He also noted that digital data can expose tax evasion, misuse of funds and inconsistencies in company records.

With technical and financial backing from the World Bank, the PRA and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will jointly draft a detailed plan for digital tax reform. Sipra added that a practical roadmap for these changes will be built with World Bank technical assistance.