Aurangzeb meets Alibaba delegation, discusses digital economy, e-commerce, technology cooperation

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (APP): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday met with the leadership of Alibaba International Digital Commerce (AIDC) and reviewed cooperation on Pakistan’s digital economy.

Discussions covered digital payments, a cashless economy and transparent delivery of social protection payments and targeted subsidies on the sidelines of the World Bank Group–IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, said a news release.

The minister appreciated Alibaba’s support for SMEs, local brands and exports through Daraz and Alibaba.com. He also invited proposals to rationalize e-commerce taxation, balancing fairness with broader tax participation.

Both sides discussed accelerating the Pakistan Single Window e-commerce platform and improving the tracking of cross-border payments and export proceeds.

Cooperation on cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) and tax administration was also reviewed, with emphasis on integrated data systems, cybersecurity and institutional capacity.

The two sides also explored modernizing Pakistan Post’s sorting systems and expanding agricultural exports to China through Alibaba’s retail network.