Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired a meeting to review the implementation roadmap and operational readiness of Federal Board of Revenue’s National Faceless Centre, a key initiative under the new Tax Operating Model aimed at establishing a technology enabled, centralized, and transparent framework for tax administration. The meeting received a detailed briefing on the implementation roadmap, covering the establishment of the Project Management Unit, governance arrangements, technology development, operational preparedness, and the phased rollout strategy, with participants outlining key milestones identified for the pre-pilot, pilot, and full implementation phases.
Aurangzeb appreciated the progress made in establishing the Project Management Unit and emphasized that effective coordination between operational and technology teams would be critical for successful implementation. He described the National Faceless Centre as an important reform initiative intended to modernize tax administration through greater digitalization, standardization, and transparency. The meeting reviewed the governance framework supporting the new operating model, including institutional arrangements for project oversight, risk management, and implementation monitoring, while participants also briefed attendees on the development of the risk engine and progress made in defining rules based case selection for the faceless system.
The finance minister stressed the importance of a carefully designed pilot phase to validate the new operating model before its nationwide rollout, underscoring the need to ensure operational readiness, identify implementation challenges early, and incorporate lessons learned to support a smooth transition to the new system. Participants also discussed progress on technology development, business requirements, digital infrastructure, and system integration required for the National Faceless Centre, with the meeting informed that an agile implementation approach is being adopted to enable continuous collaboration between business and technology teams throughout development.
Recognizing the importance of protecting digital infrastructure, Aurangzeb emphasized that information security and data governance should remain integral to the implementation process, underscoring the need for continued investment in cybersecurity capabilities and secure digital infrastructure to safeguard taxpayer information and support the long term sustainability of the new operating model. He called for regular progress reviews to closely monitor implementation milestones, address emerging challenges in a timely manner, and ensure the project remains on schedule, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the reform. The meeting was attended by Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited Chief Executive Officer Faisal Sattar, Chief Revenue Domain Officer Zain Sahi, along with senior Project Management Unit and Finance Division officials.
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