Dr. Ikramul Haq The budgets of Punjab and Sindh for fiscal year 2020-21, announced on June 16 and 17, 2020, respectively, have highlighted a pivotal point that all their projections on revenue side depended on the performance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)—Revenuecracy, an apt term coined by renowned economist Dr. Pervez Tahir. This is...Read More

Case study of telecom industry Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The 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 the government to reduce the tax burden on the sector, which it considers...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Dr. Ayesha Jalal, eminent historian, in Partisans of Allah: Jihad in South Asia has brilliantly traced the root and dimensions of jihad as anticolonial ideology that helped the subjugated masses under British raj to wage a valiant struggle for independence. The need stressed by great Muslims thinkers, Shah Waliullah,...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The Finance Bill 2020, presented along with federal budget for fiscal year 2020-21 on June 12, 2020, contains certain provisions relating to real-time access to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of citizens’ data to be obtained from various institutions that in the absence of private data protection law infringe...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq In the Finance Bill 2020, presented along with federal budget 2020-21, a highly lamentable—rather unconstitutional amendment is proposed—to the effect that for availing right to appeal the aggrieved taxpayer will have to deposit 10 percent of the demand upheld and certified by the Commissioner of Appeals (CIR) prior to...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq The Finance Bull 2020, presented along with federal budget for fiscal year 2020-21 on June 12, 2020, contains certain provisions relating to giving powers to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to have online access of personal data from various institutions/bodies that are in violation of Constitution of Islamic Republic...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari “We now know that sex is complicated enough that we have to admit nature doesn’t draw the line for us between male and female, or between male and intersex and female and intersex; we actually draw that line on nature ”—Alice Dreger They say that it is never too late to learn, a...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq “…for Pakistan, the fiscal deficit is projected to increase by 9.2 percent of GDP in 2020”—Economic Survey 1999-20quotingFiscal Monitor—April 2020, IMF The federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2020-21, the second one of coalition Government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), announced on June 12, 2020, amid Covid-19 massive economic toll, says that assessment...Read More

Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq Illicit trade in tobacco products (ITTP) is a global occurrence, affecting all regions and countries. It holds an allure for criminals to engage in it as tobacco products are light, small, easy to transport and to conceal. Tobacco is one of the most smuggled commodities in the world, allowing...Read More

Dr. Ikramul Haq The government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has been trying to improve tax administration and enhance revenues but not succeeded so far. Now amid Covid-19 epidemic it is facing a tough challenge for economic revival. It desires to prepare a budget entailing reliefs/incentives/concessions to all, but International Monetary Fund (IMF) is adamant for...Read More