Washington: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $304million in financing for Punjab Resource Improvement and DigitalEffectiveness Program (PRIDE).
The program supports efficiencies in public resource management thatgenerate savings and create fiscal space for growth-generating investmentsin the Punjab province.
“The PRIDE program is integral to the World Bank’s whole-of-countryapproach in helping Pakistan strengthen public financial management systemsat the federal and provincial levels,” said Najy Benhassine, World BankCountry Director for Pakistan.
“Punjab is the largest province, accounting for 55 percent of thepopulation and about 60 percent of the economy, so improving quality andaccess to public services is key to Pakistan’s development.”
The PRIDE Program will support the government of Punjab in strengtheningfiscal risk management and budget formulation to ensure reliable resourceallocation for public services.
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The program will improve revenue collection by increasing registration ofbusinesses and real estate, and simplifying tax administration processessuch as registration, filing, payment, refunds and appeals, read theofficial press release
In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the program also focuses on deployingtechnology-based solutions to enhance public service delivery and increaseaccess to online services for firms and individuals. This will supportPunjab in digitizing key government services to streamline processes andincrease efficiencies in the public service delivery.
