World Bank Country Director Calls on FBR Chairman with Transformation Plan on Agenda 

World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine visited Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) HQs today for a meeting with FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and his team to discuss the alignment of initiatives under Pakistan Raises Revenue Project with the FBR Transformation Plan.  Benhassine was accompanied by Tobias Akhtar Haque (Lead Country Economist), Irum Touqeer (Public Sector Specialist) and Eva Liselotte Lescrauwaet (Senior Operations Officer) during the visit.  Langrial briefed on the vision of the government for the transformation of FBR and stressed that the purpose of reforms was revenue growth while facilitating compliance. He highlighted the key reform areas to plug in the gap in tax compliance i.e. digitalization initiatives, capacity building of HR, anti-smuggling initiatives and more broad-based tax administration reforms.  The chairman requested the World Bank team for support for the reform initiatives including establishment of the digital enforcement stations, digitalization of supply chain and feasibility studies required for the cited initiatives.  Benhassine expressed his support for the revenue mobilization efforts in Pakistan and reiterated that both teams would work together to support the FBR transformation plan activities under the Pakistan Raises Revenue Program.