Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has been reminded in these columns time and again that no agenda for simplification of tax system and rationalisation of tax codes can improve voluntary tax compliance, unless there is substantial improvement in public perception regarding the efficiency, technical competence, integrity and ability...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq The resolution of March 23, 1940 paved the way for a separate homeland for the Muslims of India after a long-drawn struggle against colonial rule. However, since independence on August 14, 1947, our state is still caught in various conflicts—economic disparities, disharmony between centre and provinces, poverty, apathy towards the less-privileged in...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, widely believed to have paved the way for a separate homeland for the Muslims of India on the basis of “two-nation” theory, received a jolt in 1971 when Bengalis claimed separate state—present day Bangladesh. Many historians, academicians and political analysts say that...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The biggest challenge on tax mobilisation front faced by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is bridging monstrous tax gap through automation and introduction of tax intelligence system and not levying more taxes or enhancing the rates of the existing ones—Rationalising tax system, Business Recorder, July 19, 2020.  “If we...Read More

Dr Ikramul Haq It is shocking that only two political parties filed income tax returns for tax year 2020 out of 27 registered with FBR and 127 with Election Commission of Pakistan  despite section 114(1)(ac) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 makes it mandatory. How can we expect rule of law in Pakistan, when 125...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari “I see litter as part of a long continuum of anti-social behaviour”―Bill Bryson An interesting video came up on social groups where one strong person not only thrashed four boys sitting in a vehicle before his own in a traffic jam but also emptied the contents of a rubbish bin into their car....Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq “Pakistan affirmed its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as its own national development agenda through a unanimous National Assembly Resolution in 2016. Since then, the country has made considerable progress by mainstreaming these goals in national policies and strategies,...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq “The live coverage of court proceeding will not benefit me but the people of Pakistan. The live broadcast of court proceedings will expose some bad lawyers who do not come prepared. The live broadcast of the court proceedings will give the public access to the truth”— Justice Qazi Faez...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq “The usefulness and the mandate of….an elected body under the Constitution have been defeated by continuous and widespread corruption including misapplication of public funds and `horse-trading’, change of loyalties in violation of law by the holders of representative offices for political and personal gains, by the functionaries of the Government, local and...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq “Judicial overreach is when the judiciary starts interfering with the proper functioning of the legislative or executive organs of the government. This is totally uncharacteristic of the role of the judiciary envisaged under the Constitution and is most undesirable in a constitutional democracy. Judicial overreach is transgressive as it...Read More