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 Ikramul Haq[i] The outdated and oppressive tax structures at federal and provincial levels have created further fiscal mess[1] that is highlighted in the new chapters and solutions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…
Tax policy & development strategy
Dr. Ikramul HaqSomebody needs to tell the Prime Minister that the iniquitous prescription of the IMF calling for more taxes, austerity and high interest rates will not solve our problems—Reforms without research [Huzaima & Ikram, 2020]This is the last in…
Heroism or thoughtlessness?
Huzaima Bukhari“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost”―Arthur AsheStarting on a lighter tone with a famous joke, when a…