The Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), are convening a two-day high-level workshop on “Reforms for a Modern and Growth-Friendly Tax System in Pakistan” on October 20–21, 2026, in Islamabad. The workshop will bring together senior government officials, representatives of the IMF and World Bank, international tax experts, academics and private-sector leaders to discuss priorities for modernising Pakistan’s tax system and strengthening its contribution to sustainable economic growth.
The workshop will feature six substantive sessions covering taxation and economic growth, modernisation of Pakistan’s tax system, a unified sales tax regime across the federation and provinces, a simpler and more neutral income tax system, tax administration, digitalisation and taxpayer trust, and fiscal federalism and provincial tax revenues. Discussions will focus on developing a broader, fairer, simpler and more predictable tax system that supports revenue mobilisation, investment, business expansion and productivity.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, delivered the opening remarks alongside Mr. Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department and Rodrigo Valdés, Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department. During the two-day workshop, discussions will focus on following key areas, including “Taxing Better to Boost Growth,” “The Case for Modernizing Pakistan’s Tax System,” “Designing and Implementing a Unified Sales Tax Regime across the Federation and Provinces,” “Toward a Simpler and More Neutral Income Tax System,” and “Aligning Tax Administration with Best Practices: Digitalization, Compliance and Taxpayer Trust,” and will conclude with “Fiscal Federalism and Provincial Tax Revenues.”
The workshop will conclude with a high-level panel to consolidate recommendations, identify priority next steps and establish modalities for continued engagement among stakeholders. The initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to tax reforms for a more efficient and growth-friendly tax system.
