New Digital Face Recognition System Introduced for Pensioners’ Verification

Islamabad: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has announced a series of reforms related to the budget and national economy, including a new digital biometric verification system for elderly pensioners, expansion of the tax net, and tax relief for the agriculture sector.

Addressing the National Assembly, the finance minister said that a modern face recognition-based verification system has been introduced for senior pensioners. He added that with the launch of this system, elderly pensioners will no longer need to visit banks or stand in long queues, as they will be able to complete their verification process from home through mobile or digital platforms.

Regarding the budget, Muhammad Aurangzeb stated that the government has increased salaries and pensions of public sector employees, reduced the tax burden on existing taxpayers, and is taking comprehensive steps to expand the tax net. He said digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence are being promoted to eliminate discretionary powers of tax officials.

Talking about the national economy, the finance minister said that economic indicators have shown significant improvement over the past year, with the current account now in surplus. He added that overseas Pakistanis sent $4.25 billion in remittances, while Pakistani freelancers contributed a record $1.6 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

He further said the government’s main focus is now export-led growth. Over the past two years, the country has generated $14 billion in revenue. To modernize the agriculture sector, all import duties on advanced agricultural machinery have been abolished, and cooperation with China in agriculture is being expanded. Under this partnership, 885 Pakistani students have returned after receiving advanced training in China in the agricultural sector.