Iran: Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to eradicating polio as a national priority while meeting with Dr. Kalpana Kochhar, President for Global Policy and Advocacy at the Gates Foundation. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

According to Radio Pakistan, Senator Aurangzeb emphasized the government's dedication to institutional reforms aimed at minimizing revenue leakages and enhancing compliance within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He informed Dr. Kochhar about the Prime Minister's direct involvement in overseeing a digital transformation program focusing on financial inclusion, government payments, and digital infrastructure.

The Finance Minister elaborated on various initiatives being undertaken to modernize the FBR, such as the implementation of a digital Compliance Risk Management system, the use of AI for production monitoring, behavioral nudges delivered via SMS, and specialized training programs for young FBR officers.

Addressing the critical issue of polio, Senator Aurangzeb reiterated that polio eradication continues to be a top national priority. He highlighted Pakistan's intention to leverage its strong relationship with the Islamic Development Bank to secure additional support for polio vaccine financing.

The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing on the importance of continued knowledge exchange and collaboration to enhance their partnership, ensuring strengthened efforts in both financial reforms and healthcare initiatives.