Pakistan seeks to emulate UAE's digitalization strategy to bolster public financial reforms.
In a significant step towards enhancing collaboration and knowledge sharing, a two-day experience exchange program took place in the UAE from July 8-9, 2025. The program, attended by a senior delegation of Pakistani officials led by State Minister for Finance, Bilal Azhar Kayani, aimed to explore ways to modernize public sector governance and bolster economic cooperation between the two nations.
The focus areas of the program included governance and public service modernization, digital governance, tax system modernization, and fiscal management and reforms. The program delved into learning from the UAE's innovative governance and public service models, particularly those implemented in Dubai, and discussed the application of digital governance to improve efficiency.
Significant attention was also given to tax automation, with Pakistan expressing interest in learning from the UAE's successful systems to enhance domestic tax collection. Discussions on fiscal management, budgeting practices, and tax policy reforms aimed to draw lessons from the UAE's administrative and technology-led reforms.
The visit reinforced the commitment to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially in governance, public sector competitiveness, and innovation. The program facilitated detailed sessions and discussions with senior UAE officials, providing valuable insights into digital governance, public service delivery, and tax system modernization.
The visit builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Pakistan's Ministry of Planning, formalizing collaboration under the UAE’s Experience Exchange Programme (EEP). The MoU, signed on June 16, 2025, reinforces the shared commitment of both governments to modernize governance and build institutional capacity.
Pakistan's State Minister for Finance, Bilal Azhar Kayani, met UAE's State Minister for Finance, Mohamed Bin Hadi Al Hussaini, on July 7. During the meeting, both ministers shared insights from their respective national experiences.
The UAE is considered a vital economic ally for Pakistan, being the third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. The UAE is also the highest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan, after Saudi Arabia, providing continued financial support that plays a vital role in maintaining the country's economic stability.
Kayani emphasized Pakistan's reform agenda, focusing on e-commerce, digitization, and sustained macroeconomic stability. The exchange highlighted the potential for future collaborations across multiple sectors, with the UAE expressing willingness to support Pakistan's development endeavors.
The Pakistani embassy in Abu Dhabi reported that the discussions during the program centred around innovative approaches to public service delivery, competitiveness, and institutional reform. The initiative is in line with Islamabad's desire to modernize its public sector and strengthen economic cooperation with the Gulf nation.
Pakistan remains committed to deepening structural reforms, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and promoting transparency and good governance. The experience exchange program is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UAE and marks a significant step towards a more prosperous future for both nations.
- The focus of the Pakistani delegation's visit to the UAE, led by State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, extended to discussions about the modernization of Pakistan's tax system, learning from the UAE's successful automation systems to enhance domestic tax collection.
- The exchange program in the UAE included discussions on art and technology, with the Pakistani officials expressing interest in exploring the application of digital governance to improve efficiency, similar to the innovative models implemented in Dubai.
- In light of their commitment to strengthen economic cooperation, the UAE, being Pakistan's third-largest trading partner and the highest source of foreign remittances, after Saudi Arabia, has shown a willingness to support Pakistan's development endeavors in various sectors, including finance and business.
