Tax revenue target for 2025-26
The process of preparation of the federal and provincial budgets is underway now and the respective budgets will be announced in the earlier part of June 2025. One of the…
Carbon levy, water pricing & the green tax puzzle
It began with a bang—quite literally. On April 16, Islamabad was hammered by a freak hailstorm that turned the capital into a scene from a disaster flick. Hailstones the size…
Improving national tax culture
The International Monetary Fund has agreed to lower Pakistan’s tax collection target for the ongoing fiscal year from Rs 12.97 trillion to Rs 12.35 trillion, a move that highlights the…
Pakistan’s taxation trap: overburdening formal economy feeds the informal
Tax compliance in Pakistan has been dismal for decades, and every increase in tax rates or the imposition of new levies - whether GST, income tax, or withholding tax (WHT)…
SOEs burden on taxpayers no surprise
Conventional economic theory argues that pursuit of privatisation is to enhance service quality, attract private investment, reduce government intervention and improve accountability and transparency in the management of public assets.…
Higher unemployment and lower real wages
There has been a great deal of euphoria about the stabilisation of the economy of Pakistan. This is amply demonstrated by the quantum decline in the rate of inflation. The…
Countering sales tax frauds
Globally, tax crimes have always been a significant threat to economic stability and governance. These offences that include tax evasion, fake invoicing, refund fraud, and misreporting of income, lead to…
Tobacco taxes – treaties, tensions, and trends
Pakistan faces a pressing need for a sustainable tobacco taxation policy, particularly as tobacco use imposes severe health and economic burdens on the country. With over 160,000 deaths annually due…
The need for tax system reforms
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has a strong connection with the business community, especially with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, as he has served as its president and is well-acquainted with…
OECD, Pakistan & tax evasion
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organization dedicated to promoting economic development and cooperation among its member countries, conducts extensive research and analysis on a wide…
