IMF: reform or ruin?
For the last three decades, Pakistan has been borrowing heavily from the IMF -- giving rise to a chronicle of crises. The debt crisis has led to development and growth…
Fundamental reforms for survival
Pakistan is persistently confronting economic challenges, the resolution of which hinge on IMF’s new programme, future conditions and Pakistan’s adherence to them with the hope to regain the path to…
What does and doesn’t pass for reform?
Two stories this past week were supposed to be celebrated by Pakistanis that are thirsting for reform. The first was the news that the cabinet has approved the hiring of…
Towards a fairer tax system
The World Bank, in its latest report, ‘Pakistan Development Update’, issues a stark warning: in the current fiscal year, the country’s fiscal deficit is projected to skyrocket to a staggering…
NFC: call for fiscal reforms
In an analysis of the 7th NFC Award (‘Fiscal realities: A case for NFC reform’, March 20), published on these pages, I showed that provincial governments collect a small fraction…
Paradigm behind an ideal tax-to-GDP ratio
One point of commonality in all twenty-three International Monetary Fund (IMF) programmes secured by Pakistan to date is an emphasis on raising tax revenue with more recent programmes seeking not…
Why do reforms elude Pakistan?
At the start of every political cycle, the new government is confronted with the choice between letting the economy move on the beaten track and introducing some fundamental changes to…
Equitable taxation
The concept of taxation has deep historical roots, dating back to the governance of Greek city-states, where elected governments were entrusted with managing the welfare of citizens. The Greeks utilized…
Manifestoes, subsidies instead of reforms
Media personnel were way more insistent on manifestoes from the three national parties in the run up to the 8 February elections than the general public – a demand met…
Bridging the huge tax gap
The new coalition federal government will soon be in power, after controversial elections of February 8 2024, allegedly marred with post-voting manipulated results to favour the favourite. These were the…
