ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has planned to establish a National Digital Commission to ensure digitization of its economy and paperless governance, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, citing State Minister for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
Pakistan, which faced an economic meltdown in recent months, made rigorous efforts to introduce structural reforms under a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, which ended in April and helped the South Asian country avert a sovereign default last year.
In May, Pakistan signed an agreement with McKinsey and Company for the digitalization of its tax collection system after the IMF suggested strengthening public finances, broadening the existing tax base and privatizing loss-making state enterprises as part of reforms.
Khawaja said the new commission would be headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif keeping its importance in view, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“It will not only improve governance and tax collection efficiency but it will also smooth the inter-ministerial coordination,” she was quoted as saying.
The minister said paperless governance was “vital” to speed up the government operations and it would help remove procedural bottlenecks.
In July, Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a new $7 billion loan deal, aimed at strengthening fiscal and monetary policy as well as reforms to broaden the tax base, strengthen competition, secure a level playing field for investment, enhance human capital, and scale up social protection through increased generosity and coverage in a major welfare program.
Pakistan wants to collect 13 trillion rupees ($44 billion) in taxes — 40 percent more than the last fiscal year — according to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The government also aims to increase the number of taxpayers from a meager 5 million.
Pakistan plans to establish National Digital Commission to digitize economy, improve governance
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Pakistan plans to establish National Digital Commission to digitize economy, improve governance
- Pakistan made rigorous efforts to introduce structural reforms under its last IMF program that ended in April
- The lender has suggested broadening the tax base and better financial management under a new $7 billion deal
Pakistan, Malaysia discuss halal food, energy and tourism to boost cooperation
- Bilateral trade between both countries stands at about $1.4 billion a year
- In Oct., both countries announced a new $200 million halal meat trade quota
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysian officials have held talks on halal food, green energy and tourism sectors as part of renewed efforts to expand ties between the two Muslim-majority nations, the Pakistani High Commission in Malaysia on Monday.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah and Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, governor of Malaysia’s Sarawak state.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at about $1.4 billion a year, according to official data from both governments. In Oct., both countries announced a new $200 million halal meat trade quota.
“Constructive talks on Pakistan-Malaysia ties in halal [food], palm oil, green energy, rice, labor, tourism, culture & sustainable development,” the Pakistani High Commission in Malaysia said on X.
Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan are led by palm oil and other vegetable fats, followed by machinery, rubber products and organic chemicals. Pakistan’s main exports to Malaysia include rice, textiles, seafood and minerals.
The two countries have also traded under the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement since 2008, which provides preferential market access for goods and services.
Pakistan has been rapidly growing its green energy, halal food, and tourism sectors. Its halal food industry is attracting global buyers with Shariah-compliant products, while tourism is leveraging the country’s natural beauty, heritage sites and cultural attractions to draw international visitors.
