On being happy!
Huzaima Bukhari“The happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so”— William Inge-American playwright (1913-1973)No person who lived, is living and who will live on this earth can claim that…
FBR’s Tax Directory 2018 Analysis
Startling facts & fallaciesHuzaima Bukhari, Dr. Ikramul Haq & Syed Muhammad IjazReference two-part series (FBR’s statistics: a critical analysis—I, Business Recorder, September 25, 2020 and FBR’s statistics: a critical analysis—II, Business Recorder, September 25, 2020, this article presents statistical analysis…
Menace of counterfeit cigarettes
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqThe protest in Islamabad by civil society and lawyers joining hands with residents of Muzaffarabad and other parts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) on September 25, 2020 against production/sale of counterfeit cigarettes, having serious…
FBR’s statistics: A critical analysis
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqOn September 18, 2020, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) released ‘Parliamentarians’ Tax Directory for Tax Year 2018’, ‘Tax Directory of all Taxpayers for Tax Year 2018’ and ‘Tax Directory Analysis for Tax Year 2018’. The…
Legislators, FBR, NAB, ECP & accountability
Dr. Ikramul HaqEvery year a large number of legislators—Senators, members of National and Provincial Assemblies—fail to file their annual statements of assets and liabilities to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in time. The ECP, under the law, just temporarily…
The motorway tragedy
Any lessons learnt?Huzaima Bukhari“Strength doesn’t lie in carrying heavy loads. Camels can do that. Strength lies in controlling your temper”— Hazrat Ali (AS)There is a general belief that a person who boasts of great physical strength is stronger compared to…
Punjab: tax reforms with foreign loan!
Dr. Ikramul HaqAccording to a Press report, following in the footsteps of the Federal Government, the Punjab Government has decided to borrow $ 304 million from the World Bank for tax reforms. Earlier, the Federal Government obtained loan of $400…
The tale of diplomatic gifts
Huzaima Bukhari“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it”— Frédéric BastiatA…
Finance Bill 2013
Meaningful suggestionsHuzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqSenate Standing Committee on Finance sent a number of meaningful, though unbinding, recommendations to the National Assembly on 21 June 2013. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar ignored all of them while making the concluding speech…