Constitutionality of SROs
The federal and provincial tax codes of Pakistan contain numerous exemptions and concessions while many are added, modified or withdrawn through executive orders, called statutory regulatory orders (SROs). These exemptions…
Budget proposals-VI: No SROs please!
The Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, in a press conference held on May 11, 2015, claimed that through recently-promulgated Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015, power of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)…
Restoring Pakistan’s confidence
For quite some time, every businessman, economist and entrepreneur has argued, with urgency and frustration, that Pakistan’s economic crisis is not just a story of numbers, deficits, debt or macroeconomic…
Disarm to heal
ONE of the biggest self-inflicted tragedies of Pakistan has been its generous and mindless distribution of weapon licences. This misguided benevolence has exacerbated crime and militancy besides promoting the mushroom…
Conflict of interest
To preside over an opinion or judgement on an issue that is likely to have either beneficial positive or negative impact upon one’s interest is a classic case of conflict…
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…
Navigating trade barriers
IN today’s complex global trade environment, Pakistan finds itself navigating between two competing demands: the Trump administration’s protectionist tariffs and the European Union’s emerging Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). While…
Reimagining governance
In the 1990s, Pakistan was the richest country in South Asia. Today it is one of the poorest. In 1995, Pakistan ranked six places ahead of India and 18 places…
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…
Partnerships for resilience
THE donor’s conference in Geneva on Jan 9 offers this country a rare opportunity to engage with friends of Pakistan in a long-term partnership for resilience. Building on the high-profile…
