The approval of a $180 million loan by the Asian Development Bank ADB for Pakistan has been granted. This funding is allocated for enhancing water supply and solid waste management services in Punjab.

The project, endorsed by the Asian Development Bank, is anticipated to benefit 1.5 million individuals in Punjab. Notably, it involves the expansion and modernization of the Rawalpindi Urban Water Supply. Additionally, improvements to the solid waste management system in Bahawalpur are part of the initiative.

The execution of the project is expected to enhance municipal services in both Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi. A water treatment plant with a capacity of 54 million liters per day will be constructed in Rawalpindi. Furthermore, around 82,000 households will receive clean water through pipelines.

Simultaneously, a delegation of technical experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has arrived in Islamabad with a mission to broaden the tax base in Pakistan. According to officials at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the week-long consultations with the IMF delegation aim to provide assistance in improving tax efficiency.

The IMF has emphasized the need to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 15% and has urged the inclusion of affluent individuals in the tax net. Discussions during the consultations are expected to cover the mechanism for bringing retailers into the tax net, with the global lender offering policy guidelines for the proposed scheme.

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