Mar 25
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Kahkashan Hall, Serena Hotel Islamabad
Introductory remarks:
- Mr. Arif Jabbar Khan: Country Director, Oxfam
Moderator:
- Dr. Abid Q. Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI
Speakers:
- Mr. Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, MNA, Jamat-e-Islami (JI)
- Ms. Arifa Khalid, MPA, PML- N
- Mr. Malik Uzair Khan, MNA, PML-N
- Senator Mir Hasil Bazinjo, Senior Vice President, National Party
- Mr. Qaiser A Sheikh: Member National Assembly, PML(N)
- Ms. Asia Nasir, MNA, JUI (F)
- Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Senior Vice President, ANP
- Mr. Rasheed Godel, MNA, MQM
- Dr. Vaqar, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI
Concept Note:
National Tax Reform: Consultation with Political Parties
There is a great potential in Pakistan economy to increase domestic revenue base and spend the additional resources for essential services. However, there are several impediments to introduce tax reforms in Pakistan including a broader political consensus having economic rationale of tax reform backed up by country’s business and economists’ community. In a divided political spectrum it will be hard for any government to introduce bold measures for reforming tax system. With a large and growing population, Pakistan will need additional revenues to finance its social development specially the public services including universal education, health, clean drinking water and sanitation. Majority of poor in Pakistan are heavily dependent on these public services. Despite several efforts and improvements, still there are large gaps in providing these services to all the citizens of Pakistan.
Political parties will address following key questions:
1. How to remove tax exemption due to which Pakistan is losing Rs. 500 billion annually?
2. Reducing rate of sales tax [this is indirect tax] which is affecting poor people the most?
3. How to increase the share of direct taxes in overall revenues and making it progressive so that poor have to bear lesser burden?
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