The Honurable President
Islamic Republic of PakistanFAIR TAXATION, PROSPEROUS PAKISTAXTax administrators should be given powers to enforce tax laws and not to vary or modify them to negate the principles enshrined in Articles 77 and 162 of the Constitution. Tax laws should be…
Introduction
The Institute for Social Justice submits this brief report on water and sanitation in Pakistan to the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Sustainable Human Development Section, Special Procedures Division, UNOG-OHCHRViolations of the rights…
Rich-poor widening gap
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqA report of World Bank, State of Water Supply, Sanitation and Poverty in Pakistan, released on November 1, 2018, says that the poverty head count rate in rural Pakistan was twice as much in urban…
Why should FBR be dissolved?
Huzaima Bukhari and Dr. Ikramul HaqThe Prime Minister, Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, as per media reports, has hinted at dissolving the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) showing extreme displeasure over its poor performance. A new organization may replace FBR…
Pro-workers laws, insensitive legislators
Dr. Ikramul HaqSignificant pro-labour reforms were introduced by the Government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as early as in 1972 in the wake of threadbare discussions at a Tripartite Labour Conference held at Islamabad. Many laws were introduced and steps were…
Retrieving billions for the marginalised
Dr. Ikramul HaqIn a meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, Dr. Fehmida Mirza, on October 10, 2018, it was reportedly conveyed that the trans-provincial fund, assets, institutions and the programmes run by Employees Old Age Benefits…
Merger of FATA/PATA & tax issues
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqThe passage of Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2018 [“25thConstitutional Amendment”] by Senate and National Assembly, its adoption by the Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [by vote of 92 to 7] and assent by President of Pakistan…
FBR’s performance (1996-97 to 2017-18)
(Rs. in billions)YearTargetsCollectionGrowth in Collection (%)Target Achieved (%)Tax to GDP ratioRatio in total taxes (%)Indirect taxesDirect taxes1996-97286.0282.15.298.611.669.830.21997-98297.6293.64.198.711.064.935.11998-99308.0308.55.1100.210.564.335.71999-00351.7347.112.598.79.167.532.52000-01406.5392.313.096.59.368.231.82001-02414.2404.13.097.69.164.735.32002-03458.9460.614.0100.49.467.033.02003-04510520.813.1102.19.268.331.72004-05590590.413.4101.89.168.931.12005-06690713.420.8103.49.468.531.52006-07935847.218.8101.59.860.639.42007-081.0001008.118.9100.89.861.538.52008-091,1791157.014.898.18.961.838.22009-101,3801327.414.769.09.060.439.62010-111,6671587.019.695.28.861.338.72011-121952.31883.018.296.59.160.839.22012-1320071939.403.096.68.561.838.22013-1422752254.516.099.08.861.138.92014-1528102589.913.092.29.260.139.92015-163103.73112.420.2100.39.660.939.12016-1736213367.88.092.99.860.139.92017-1840133842.114.197.610.460.040.0 Source: State Bank/Economic Annual Surveys & FBR Year BooksTable: FBR Tax Collection (2001-02 to 2017-18)(million rupees)Fiscal YearDirect TaxesSalesExciseCustomsTotal of Indirect TaxesTotal Tax CollectionIndirect tax…
Historic FATA/PATA merger
Opportunities & ChallengesHuzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqThe merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) with respective provinces, as a result of assent of President to the Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act,…