FATF & Pakistan’s Progress
Huzaima Bukhari, Dr. Ikramul Haq & Abdul Rauf Shakoori“As a three-day virtual meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will begin today, February 22, during which the steps taken by Pakistan against money laundering and terror financing will be…
Tax model for growth & prosperity
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The outdated and oppressive tax structures at federal and provincial levels, wasteful expenses, mounting debt servicing and annual tax expenditure of over Rs. one trillion have created fiscal instability since 2008. The coalition Government of…
Pakistan’s fiscal woes
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq“….the debt servicing relief of US$ 2.7 billion (equivalent to 1 percent of GDP) provided to Pakistan under the G-20’s Debt Servicing Suspension Initiative will help create expenditure space for Covid-related spending” —State Bank of…
Tax incentives for non-resident Pakistanis
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqThe coalition government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on February 11, 2021 opted to issue second Presidential Ordinance VI of 2021 [Tax Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021] inserting new provisions and amending the existing ones in all…
Morbid taxation: stifling growth of private sector
Case study of telecom industryHuzaima 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…
FBR, taxpayers & rule of law
Dr. Ikramul HaqIn the recent months, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) under the present team not only exceeded the budget for the first seven months of the current fiscal year, but has also taken many initiatives that need to…
Lower & Predictable Taxes for Growth
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq[i] The outdated and oppressive tax structures at federal and provincial levels have created further fiscal mess[1] that is highlighted in the new chapters and solutions offered for their resolution[2]. We have also included a model…
When empowerment is crime!
Huzaima Bukhari“Unless the issue of the empowerment of women is addressed, the practice of women being unfairly treated will remain unresolved”―Kapil SibalIn addition to scientific and technological advancements, the world today has moved towards better integration of relationship between men…
Countering financial crimes & FATF
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqIn recent days, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken many steps to enforce internal accountability mechanism to uproot corruption/malpractices within the organisation. The steps like making Chief Commissioners as ‘IRS Ombudsman’ and establishing ‘Integrity…