Dr Ikramul Haq

The economic misery of millions of Pakistanis in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, monopoly of State oligarchy on resources and abuse of robber barons of their position in power to fleece the masses and get extraordinary benefits have once again exposed the cruel elitist structure of a land claimed to be secured in the name […]

The worldwide Covid-19 crisis has jolted the entire humanity, exposed vulnerabilities of even those states considered as economically and politically so “powerful” so as to determine the course of history. Being clueless how to curtail/overcome the outbreak, the mighty states are not only going to be badly hit due to negative growth this year, projected […]

Nobody in Pakistan has highlighted till today what China has offered as tax package to help domestic businesses hurt by the deadly corona outbreak in addition to overcoming it in a short time. The relief package [March-24-Package] announced by our Prime Minister of Rs. 1.2 trillion was not only delayed but offered no meaningful tax […]

“It has been common knowledge for years that a large number of Pakistani citizens, who are residents of Pakistan and are maintaining accounts in foreign countries without disclosing the same to the authorities competent under the laws of Pakistan or paying taxes on the same in accordance with law. Prima facie, it appears that such […]

While speaking at the one-day conference, ‘Doing Taxes Better: Shifting the Paradigm of Tax Policy and Administration’, organised by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) on March 11, 2020, Ms. Teresa Daban Sanchez, the Resident Chief of International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Islamabad, said that “Pakistan’s tax collection is 62 percent below than its potential […]

The Government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)has been widely criticized by business houses, public at large and Opposition in National Assembly and Senate for imposing unprecedented high petroleum levy on petroleum oil lubricant [POL] products.All newspapers and electronic media channels on March 2, 2020 highlighted that the PTI Government “facing a revenue shortfall of over Rs. […]

The real dilemma of our tax system is that it is highly inequitable. The burden of taxes is less on the rich and more on the middle-classand the poor. In the face of this stark reality, successive governments since 1991 have been resorting to regressive taxation, favouring the rich and mighty, who are hooked to […]

There is a growing concern among admirers/supporters of Prime Minister Imran Khan that despite tall claims, core reforms promised for making Pakistan a prosperous State have not been undertaken/delayed/deferred/abandoned. It is tragic that our leaders have little regard for what they promise to do before being elected, and voters conveniently ignore once electing them by […]

“Total debt servicing increased by around 57 percent during FY 2018-19 compared with last fiscal year which was driven by higher domestic interest payments (on account of rise in domestic interest rates) while external debt repayments increased significantly and recorded at Rs 974 billion during FY 2018-19 compared with Rs 450 billion during last fiscal […]

Punjab is the most populous [110 million people] province of Pakistan with largest resources and budget size after the Federal Government, and beneficiary of lion’s share [this year estimate is Rs. 1.6 trillion] from National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. For the last many years, the performance of this province in tax collection is extremely unsatisfactory. […]