ISLAMABD, AUGUST 5: A Task Force on Digitalization with ten members has been established by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with Ali Pervaiz Malik, the state minister for Finance and Revenue, serving as its chair.
The letter states that the Prime Minister is happy to form a Task Force for the full and complete digitization of FBR. Major General Syed Ali Raza, DG C4I, will co-head the Task Force, while the Minister of State for Finance and Revenue will lead the Committee.
Other committee members include Ghazi Akhtar of Lotte Akhtar Beverages Ltd., Ziad Bashir, Member of the Board of Directors Gul Ahmed, Amir Malik, the former CEO of PRAL, Fareed Zafar of LUMS, Asif Peer of Systems Ltd., Tania Aidrus, Waqas ul Hasan of Karandaz, and Gohar Marwat, Project Officer of NADRAc, who will serve as Task Force members.
If it is thought essential, the mission Force may co-opt any individual from the public or private sector for this mission.
The Task Force’s Terms of Reference (ToR) include developing the policy interventions needed for the digitalization of FBR as well as implementing data automation and software solutions. These include the following:
a. data integration (both horizontally across Ministries/Government departments and vertically with Provincial Revenue Authorities).
b. risk-based auditing with CNIC serving as a single primary identifier to expand the tax base.
c. automation of the supply chain (including wholesalers, distributors, and middlemen networks).
d. Track & Trace System through integrated/automated system.
e. restructuring of PRAL as an independent IT-driven bureau for generating planning data/statistics; and f. trade data sharing interface with trading partners for efficient valuation/appraisal.
Within a month, the Task Force will present its recommendations and strategy for the Prime Minister to review.