19th anniversary of 9/11
Hidden agenda & “deal” with Taliban Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq On September 11, 2001, nineteen years ago, humanity at large witnessed one of the most gruesome and heinous crimes in history. The wanton attack on twin towers of World…
FBR: reforms, refunds & cleansing
Dr. Ikramul Haq“If we realise that the FBR cannot be fixed, we will create a new FBR. This is because Pakistan’s survival is linked to it. It’s not about our liking or disliking: if our tax collection authority does not…
Justice, at last!
Huzaima Bukhari“Death is less bitter punishment than death’s delay”—OvidExactly after seventeen months of the gruesome crime of killing 51 Muslim worshippers in two mosques of Christchurch, New Zealand, 29-year-old Brenton Tarrant will spend the rest of his life in prison…
Need to reconsider fiscal management
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqPunjab is the most populous [110 million people] province of Pakistan with largest resources and budget size after the Federal Government and beneficiary of lion’s share from National Finance Commission (NFC) Award [for fiscal year…
Modernising & reforming FBR
Dr. Ikramul HaqPakistan, for the last many decades, has been grappling with the problem of raising adequate taxes to meet needs of both the people and the state. The perpetual and burgeoning fiscal deficit, coupled with deadly debt trap and…
Harmful taxation of IT/telecom sectors
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqThe Pakistan telecom sector contributes steady inflow of heavy tax collections under major heads like Activation Tax, GST/FED, the PTA fee & charges and others. The PTA has been advocating to the government to reduce…
Imam Hussain AS
His message transcends all faithsHuzaima Bukhari“The sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) is not limited to one country, or nation, but it is the hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind”—Dr. Rajendra PrasadGenerally, we as human beings tend to be…
Apropos to slavery & the Western World
Huzaima Bukhari“We cannot continue to blame the white men, as Africans, particularly the traditional rulers, are not blameless”—The Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria addressing tribal chiefsThere are always two sides of a coin therefore any issue under consideration must be…
Reforms: resisted, ignored & delayed
Dr. Ikramul HaqBureaucratic rules, procedures and structures should be modernised and training programs geared towards not just producing a class of capable civil servants, but restoring a spirit of public service—Reforming Pakistan’s Civil Service, Asia Report No. 185 of February…