Reforms: resisted, ignored & delayed
Dr. Ikramul Haq Bureaucratic 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…
‘Good’ trouble
Huzaima Bukhari “Rosa Parks inspired me to find a way to get in the way, to get in trouble….good trouble, necessary trouble”—John Lewis The word ‘trouble’ and its various forms evoke negativity with all its manifestations. Not even for a…
Overcoming fiscal challenges
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Presently, all broad-based and buoyant sources of revenue are with the federal government and contribution of provinces in total tax revenues [Rs. 4748 billion] for the fiscal year 2019-20 [11.4% of GDP] was merely…
Taxation hindering investment
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq This survey shows that international and national evidence points out that taxation and growth are negatively correlated. It is time Pakistan took this seriously and changed the adjustment and growth model. If Pakistan thinks…
Viable model for affordable housing
Dr. Ikramul Haq It is unfortunate that since the announcement by Prime Minister Imran Khan of his ‘flagship project’—Naya Pakistan Housing Programme—aimed at constructing five million houses for the low income segments of society during the next five years, everybody…
Fiscal deficit and tax system
Dr. Ikramul Haq In fiscal year 2019-20, the coalition government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), according to a report, posted fiscal deficit of Rs. 3.4 trillion or 8.1% of GDP against the estimate of International Monetary Fund (IMF) of Rs. 3.9…
Finance Act 2020
Lack of initiatives & innovations Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The adoption of Finance Bill 2020 on June 29, 2020 and exceeding the target by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, after blocking refunds…
Need for new income tax law
Draft Income Tax Act, 2022 Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq[i] When the government of General Pervez Musharraf decided to promulgate a new income tax law in 2000, many opposed it strongly. The main objection was that his regime had…
Independence Day considerations
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Today we are celebrating 73rd Independence Day with a hope that the new government, after two years in power, will now seriously work on bringing the much-needed reforms in all spheres of governance and…