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Germany to help FBR is tax reforms

Germany has pledged to help Pakistan in successfully implementing the reforms process currently under way in Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

“Germany considers Pakistan a valued partner in business and trade and it would be happy to provide any technical support to Pakistan in modernising its tax administration,” said Dr. Birger Nerre during a meeting with Ms Riffat Shah Qazi, Member Facilitation & Taxpayers Education FBR. Dr Birger Nerre who heads the Public Finance, Administration Reforms and Anti-Corruption wing of the German Technical Cooperation is leading a four-member delegation on a visit to Pakistan to explore avenues for enhancing mutual cooperation and exchange technical expertise between the two countries.

Ms. Qazi briefed the visiting delegates on the various steps and measures taken by the FATE Wing to broaden tax base, raise tax-to-GDP ratio, and to promote a taxpayer-friendly image of FBR. She also explained the nature of work executed by FATE Wing with regard to organisation of seminars, workshops and promotion of friendly relations with the taxpayers and other stakeholders, including the print and electronic media.

Dr. Birger Nerre appreciated the reforms process being pursued by FBR with a view to modernising the tax machinery and introducing VAT from the next financial year. He said Germany was keen to work with Pakistan in different areas of the economy, including taxation, and their ongoing visit to Pakistan was aimed at working out modalities of a framework that would allow the two countries to forge ahead in their bilateral trade and economic relations. Senior FBR officials, including FATE Chief Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Secretary Dr Akthar Hussain and others also attended the meeting.