BY: ELLAHI BUKHSH QURESHI, ACA, APFA, LLM (UK) Abstract: Withholding tax is a valuable tool used by many tax jurisdictions in their tax machinery for revenue and data collection. A brief introduction to withholding tax mechanism is followed by analyses of overwhelming reliance of Pakistan tax system on withholding taxes. Currently, Pakistan has 28 provisions...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq A write-up published in an English daily on November 19, 2019 claimed that Mr. Babar Sattar, counsel for Justice Qazi Faez Isa of Supreme Court “raised questions and highlighted that for some years his client’s (Justice Faez Isa) wife has paid even more tax than Prime Minister Imran Khan....Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The judiciary worked tirelessly to provide justice to the people with less resources. 3,100 judges worked hard and decided 3.6 million cases in a year. Judiciary decides all the cases on merit and does not differentiate between the rich and poor—Chief Justice of Pakistan The Chief Justice of Pakistan...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq “Only two [tobacco] companies pay 98 percent of total tax [tobacco collection]. The remaining 40% companies pay meagre 2% tax”—Prime Minister, Imran Khan “Cigarette manufacturers across the country are evading millions of rupees in taxes through fraudulent methods in connivance with government officials, opposition members, and individuals of investigative agencies”— Investigative report...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq “Only two [tobacco] companies pay 98 percent of total tax [tobacco collection]. The remaining 40% companies pay meagre 2% tax”—Prime Minister, Imran Khan “Cigarette manufacturers across the country are evading millions of rupees in taxes through fraudulent methods in connivance with government officials, opposition members, and individuals of investigative...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari “Choosing elements for your wedding day should be fun, but these choices won’t make any difference in the stuff that matters. For better or worse, you’ll end that day married to your partner, and that’s the truly exciting part” ―Rachel Hollis, an American motivational speaker and blogger The union of two souls is...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Fiscal consolidation should be as growth-friendly as possible. In general, tax base-broadening reforms are identified as growth-oriented reforms. To the extent that they reduce distortions to economic decisions on work, saving, investment and consumption, they should increase output and improve social welfare—Choosing a Broad Base–Low Rate Approach to Taxation,...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq From life-time disqualification of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif—first time of any prime minister in Pakistan under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution—to sentence in criminal cases involving alleged corruption and finally permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, there are many lessons for the rich and mighty, who have been claiming...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing top officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on November 13, 2019, sought their input/recommendations in respect of a three-year-long tax reform agenda, approved by him through a letter dated October 3, 2019. It was shocking that he approved the same without consulting...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing top officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on November 13, 2019, expressed dissatisfaction over performance of apex revenue authority. He asked them to give their input regarding substantial tax reforms approved by him on October 3, 2018 to collect taxes of Rs. 8 trillion, otherwise...Read More