The Cult of Toxic Productivity
February 2, 2026
The World Bank and Punjab Revenue Authority agreed to digitize tax collection by integrating PRA systems with PITB, aiming to improve transparency, curb evasion, and promote a cashless economy in Punjab.
Read more: Pakistan Seeks World Bank Support for Battery Storage
A World Bank delegation met Moazzam Iqbal Sipra, Chairman of the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), to agree on a joint working plan aimed at fully digitalizing Punjab’s tax collection system and advancing the shift toward a cashless economy. Under the agreement, the PRA’s electronic tax system will be integrated with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) database to enhance transparency, efficiency, and curb tax evasion by tightening controls on revenue flows and record manipulation. Consumers in the hotel and restaurant sector are already being incentivized with up to 11 percent tax relief on debit and credit card payments as part of this broader reform push.
The World Bank praised PRA’s reform agenda and assured practical cooperation to implement the agreed measures, signaling deeper collaboration between the international lender and provincial authorities to modernize tax administration and expand business registration and tax coverage across Punjab. This digital tax initiative reflects a larger trend toward e-economy frameworks designed to improve compliance and revenue mobilization, leveraging tech integration to support fiscal sustainability and streamline public finance systems.
