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,…
Tax exemptions (?) for FATA/PATA
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqThe twenty-fifth amendment in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, officially called ‘The Constitution (Twenty-fifth Amendment) Act, 2018’, previously named as ‘The (Thirty-first Amendment) Act, 2018’, was passed by the National Assembly (May 24,…
Consolidate statement showing pendency, institution and disposal of cases during the period 1-30th September, 2018 in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Federal Shariat Court, High Courts and District Judiciary
Superior CourtsPendencyInstitution during the periodDisposal during the periodBalanceSupreme Court of Pakistan40,8719881,63740,243Federal Shariat Court500684422Name of CourtsOld Cases Filed upto31-12-2011New Cases Filed from 1-1-2012Old + New(Grand Total)High CourtsPendDispBalPendInstDispBalPendInstDispBalLahore High Court10,30024310,057151,17214,70510,419155,458161,47214,70510,662165,515High Court of Sindh16,25426815,99376,8963,0233,74576,17693,1503,0234,01392,169Peshawar High Court3,426273,39926,2791,1921,24626,22529,7051,1921,27329,624High Court of Balochistan306112956,5493423446,5476,8553423556,842Islamabad High Court1,403241,37715,41281857715,70816,81581860117,085Total (High Courts)31,68957331,121276,30820,08016,331280,114307,99720,08016,904311,235District…