Pakistan to Auction 200% More Spectrum to Fix Slow Internet

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Islamabad In a major push to address rising internet demand and improve mobile broadband quality, the federal government has decided to auction more than 200 percent additional telecom spectrum, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the National Assembly in a written response. The minister said Pakistan’sContinue Reading

**World Bank, PRA Join Hands to Digitise Punjab’s Tax System** The World Bank and the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) have agreed on a joint roadmap to digitise tax collection in Punjab, marking a major step toward greater transparency, improved compliance and a shift to a cashless economy. The understanding was reached during a meeting between a World Bank delegation and PRA Chairman Moazzam Iqbal Sipra, where both sides endorsed a working plan to fully digitalise the province’s tax administration. Under the initiative, PRA’s electronic tax systems will be integrated with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) database to strengthen oversight, reduce manual intervention and curb tax evasion. Officials said tighter digital controls would help prevent revenue leakage and manipulation of records, while making tax processes faster and more efficient for businesses and consumers alike. As part of the reform push, consumers in the hotel and restaurant sector are already being offered incentives of up to 11 per cent tax relief on debit and credit card payments to encourage cashless transactions. The World Bank welcomed PRA’s reform agenda and assured technical and operational support for the rollout of the digital framework. The collaboration signals deeper engagement between the international lender and provincial authorities to modernise tax administration, expand business registration and widen the tax base across Punjab. The move aligns with broader efforts to build an e-economy, using technology-driven solutions to improve compliance, boost revenue mobilisation and strengthen the sustainability of public finances.

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The World Bank and the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) have agreed on a joint roadmap to digitise tax collection in Punjab, marking a major step toward greater transparency, improved compliance and a shift to a cashless economy. The understanding was reached during a meeting between a World Bank delegation andContinue Reading

Pakistan, Microsoft Explore AI, Cloud Collaboration to Boost Digital Transformation

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Islamabad Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja held a strategic meeting with David Frantic, Regional Business Head at Microsoft, to explore potential collaboration across key areas of Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda. According to officials, the discussions focused on artificial intelligence skilling and capacity building, expansion of cloudContinue Reading