Asset 1

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.

Pakistan Observer

Published Date: Dec 24, 2013

Dialogue for taxation reforms stressed

There is a need for dialogue on taxation reforms in Pakistan, given the country’s weak
fiscal position. This was expressed by Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) at the launch of a
report titled ‘Taxation by Misrepresentation’ here today.

The report tracks tax declarations and returns filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Federal
Bureau of Revenue (FBR) respectively by legislators across the country (national and provincial
assemblies). Speakers at the
occasion also stressed that the Government
should release a tax directory comprising of tax record of all elected
legislators, in accordance with the law.

The research report has been undertaken by the Sustainable Development Policy
Institute (SDPI), in partnership with the Center for Investigative Reporting in
Pakistan (CIRP). According to the report, 123 legislators and a provincial
financial minister do not even have an NTN number. A total of 461 legislators
are classified as ‘non tax-paying’, while those claiming to pay their taxes are
numbered at 550 according to the report. There is no tax record to be found for
54 elected candidates.

From the National Assembly of Pakistan, 125 members are classified as
‘non-taxpaying’, including two ministers.
In the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, there are 161 such members, including two
ministers; in Sindh, there are 59 such MPAs, including a serving minister; 80
non-taxpaying MPAs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, including four ministers,
speaker and the deputy speaker; 36 non-taxpaying MPAs in Baluchistan assembly,
including eight ministers. Overall, 47% of legislators from all the assemblies
in Pakistan have not filed their taxes, according to the record of FBR. The
highest percentage of non-taxpaying legislators was found in the assembly of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The report also highlights that there are large discrepancies in tax record as
well as income declaration of elected legislators in all the national and
provincial assemblies. According to the report “Tax declarations of several top
leaders have been found at variance with FBR data”. Discrepancy between income
and tax declaration and records of the FBR was found for 26% of legislators
from the National Assembly of Pakistan. Significant discrepancies between
declarations of income and tax and FBR record were also found for Chief
Ministers of Balochistan, KPK and Punjab.

Participants at the occasion also highlighted the need for change in legislation to ensure tax diligence.
Pakistan’s consistently dismal economic performance has exacerbated the need
for taxation reforms in the country. With an abysmally low tax-to-GDP at around
9%, Pakistan ranks lower than most comparator economies, including India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.
While indirect taxation has increased the burden on the poor of the country, the privileged ones not only continue
to enjoy tax exemptions and amnesty schemes, but also evade applicable taxes on
their incomes.

Share
Tweet