Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday met a delegation of the American Business Council (ABC), assuring them of the government’s resolve to broaden the tax base and shift the burden away from compliant taxpayers.
Acknowledging the critical role of the formal sector in national revenue, the minister also underlined the intent to ensure enforcement across all sectors. “There will be no room for leakages in supply and value chains. Our aim is to formalize the economy through end-to-end digitization and FBR reforms, and we have some of the best minds working on this through the IT arm of the FBR,” he said.
The ABC delegation was led by its president, Kamran Attaullah Khan, and included senior executives of leading U.S. companies operating in Pakistan. Senior officers from the Finance Division and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were also present.
During the meeting, Aurangzeb shared insights from his recent visit to Washington for the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said he and his team had held productive discussions with the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council and appreciated the longstanding contributions of American businesses to Pakistan’s economic development.
“The scale and depth of U.S. investment in Pakistan is both significant and valuable—and we look forward to further expanding this partnership,” he said.
The ABC delegation presented several proposals and raised sector-specific concerns. Welcoming their input, the minister emphasized the importance of timely submission of budget proposals, noting that “dialogue should be continuous and not confined to the budget cycle.”
Aurangzeb also noted the government is actively working to create a more structured and predictable policy environment, with efforts underway to strengthen the Tax Policy Office and establish an Advisory Panel for ongoing consultation.
Highlighting Pakistan’s macroeconomic stabilization, he reiterated the government is fully committed to staying the course on structural reforms. “If Pakistan is to break free from the boom-and-bust cycles and avoid returning to the IMF for a 25th program, sustained reforms are imperative,” he asserted.
On capacity building, the minister noted that while financing for reform initiatives is in place, the need now is for tactical support and technical expertise. “We need know-how more than capital in certain areas, and welcome collaboration in that regard,” he added.
The delegation thanked the minister for the candid discussion and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the government. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to strengthen engagement to collectively address key economic challenges and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment.