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Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI) 2020 launched                    111,75 Think Tanks across the world ranked in different categories.                SDPI is ranked 90th among “Top Think Tanks Worldwide (non-US)”.           SDPI stands 11th among Top Think Tanks in South & South East Asia & the Pacific (excluding India).            SDPI notches 33rd position in “Best New Idea or Paradigm Developed by A Think Tank” category.                SDPI remains 42nd in “Best Quality Assurance and Integrity Policies and Procedure” category.              SDPI stands 49th in “Think Tank to Watch in 2020”.            SDPI gets 52nd position among “Best Independent Think Tanks”.                           SDPI becomes 63rd in “Best Advocacy Campaign” category.                   SDPI secures 60th position in “Best Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks” category.                       SDPI obtains 64th position in “Best Use of Media (Print & Electronic)” category.               SDPI gains 66th position in “Top Environment Policy Tink Tanks” category.                SDPI achieves 76th position in “Think Tanks With Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program” category.                    SDPI notches 99th position in “Top Social Policy Think Tanks”.            SDPI wins 140th position among “Top Domestic Economic Policy Think Tanks”.               SDPI is placed among special non-ranked category of Think Tanks – “Best Policy and Institutional Response to COVID-19”.                                            Owing to COVID-19 outbreak, SDPI staff is working from home from 9am to 5pm five days a week. All our staff members are available on phone, email and/or any other digital/electronic modes of communication during our usual official hours. You can also find all our work related to COVID-19 in orange entries in our publications section below.    The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) is pleased to announce its Twenty-third Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) from 14 – 17 December 2020 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The overarching theme of this year’s Conference is Sustainable Development in the Times of COVID-19. Read more…       FOOD SECIRITY DASHBOARD: On 4th Nov, SDPI has shared the first prototype of Food Security Dashboard with Dr Moeed Yousaf, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on  National Security and Economic Outreach in the presence of stakeholders, including Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Provincial and district authorities attended the event in person or through zoom. The dashboard will help the government monitor and regulate the supply chain of essential food commodities.
Pre-Budget Economic Analysis Campaign

Nov 12

12:00 am to 1:00 pm

Recommendations taken by Government of Pakistan
During Pre-Budget analysis campaign number of proposals were put forward to the previous government who presented budget in April 2018. Number of recommendations which came forward from the discussions organized and managed by CIPE and SDPI were accepted and taken up by the government at that time. Some of the worth mentioning in this regard are:
  • Some of the accepted proposals from last year have been continued by the federal government which include custom duty exemption on harvesters and removal of GST on imported sunflower and canola seeds.
  • We recommended reduction of the indirect tax burden on agriculture sector. The government has reduced the GST on fertilizers to 2% and GST on machinery from 7% to 5%.
  • Government has introduced zero-rating regime in 5 sectors namely textile, leather, sports goods, surgical goods and carpets.
  • The government has promised to refund pending refund claims of exporters over the next 12 months and afterwards all claims will be paid back on monthly basis as stipulated by law.
  • Government has accepted our proposal of risk-based audits and in this regard, the grant of stay by the Commissioner (Appeals) was subject to payment of 25% of tax liability. The condition has now been relaxed to 10% of the tax liability. The authority of commissioners and chief commissioners to appoint staff at premises of the tax payer to monitor sales and production has been withdrawn due to complaints of misuse.
  • Regarding the real estate sector, the FBR rates have been abolished and the transaction will be recorded on basis of value declared by the buyer and seller.
  • The government has decided to reduce the corporate tax rate standing at 30% now to 25% in the next 5 years.
  • Several measures on reduction of customs duty and indirect taxes have been taken.
Background: 

CIPE and SDPI have done considerable public-private consultations in the last two years. As a result of these consultations, both parties came up with a draft economic agenda for 2018 elections. The core-objective of this activity was to fully support the vision of economic reforms to four-tier consultation model by engaging public office holders, private sector leaders, academia, and the political representatives from all mainstream political parties. Objectives of this activity revolved around economic reforms for reducing cost of doing business in Pakistan and improving ease of doing business index.
Project link: https://sdpi.org/research_programme/researchproject-388-26-60.html
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