Distorted tax base & oppressive exaction
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 in economic decisions on work, saving, investment and consumption,…
Political economy of tax reforms—I
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The debates and discourses concerning political economy of tax reforms in Pakistan lack objective analyses and rational approach as evident from the latest World Bank Pakistan Raises Revenue (PRR) Project wherein an appraisal paper,…
Existing tax structure & fiscal restraints
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 is merely 6 percent—in overall national revenue base (tax and non-tax revenue) it…
Making FBR efficient
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), as per reports, is “trying its best to fill the gaps in the economy through new ways of revenue collection”. The recent idea “after the research of the…
Overcoming debt enslavement
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr Ikramul Haq “The central government’s debt increased at a double-digit pace to Rs. 32.1 trillion by the end of November [2019], an addition of a whopping Rs. 5.7 trillion in just one year, as the Pakistan…
Wither Imran’s reforms agenda?
Dr. Ikramul Haq There is a growing concern among admirers/supporters of Prime Minister Imran Khan that despite tall claims, core reforms promised for making Pakistan a prosperous State have not been undertaken/delayed/deferred/abandoned. It is tragic that our leaders have little…
One’s self—an objective view
Huzaima Bukhari “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves”—Carl Jung. A good friend raised a thought-provoking question which is: “Why is it that the Pakistani community, despite having the Holy Quran as its…
Retrieving untaxed/ill-gotten assets
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq In the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Suo Motu Case No. 2 of 2018 re ‘Maintaining of Foreign Accounts by Pakistani Citizens Without Disclosing the Same/Paying Taxes’, is still pending for adjudication. It started on…
Overcoming fiscal mess
Dr. Ikramul Haq “Total debt servicing increased by around 57 percent during FY 2018-19 compared with last fiscal year which was driven by higher domestic interest payments (on account of rise in domestic interest rates) while external debt repayments increased…