Partners: Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Duration:
- Phase-1: January 2016 to July 2016
- Phase-2: October 2016 till June 2017
- Locale:Pakistan (Balochistan, KPK, Punjab, Sindh)
Team Members:
- Phase-1: Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Muhammad Adnan, Danish Hasan
- Phase-2: Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Engr. Ahad Nazir, Rabia Manzoor, Syed Shujaat Ahmed, Khawaja Umer, Wahaj Afzal, Syed Fazal Hussain Bukhari
Objective:
Conducting a brief situational analyses on the provincial tax reform efforts in Punjab and Sindh in order to take stock of the current fiscal efforts it is important to listen to the views of revenue authorities, business community, consumer groups and trade associations.
To study how coordination can be improved between provinces and the center for reducing transactions and compliance costs faced by tax payers
To make use of preliminary work conducted by CIPE and SDPI on tax reforms and to arrive at a tax harmonization methodology, through a multi-stakeholder dialogue that can be organized across provinces.
Concept:
The provincial administrations have been entrusted with greater revenue mobilization responsibilities in a post‐18th Amendment milieu. Apart from the traditional taxes under provincial jurisdiction (e.g. property, transport and agriculture taxes), the sales tax on services is also under the provincial domain. Some provinces have also requested to devolve the control over federal excise collections.
The provincial governments in Punjab and Sindh have undertaken a medium term exercise towards provincial revenue mobilization reforms. However there are several features of tax policies that require harmonization across provinces. An inability to do so will imply that a business or individual operating in at least 2 or more provinces is prone to face double taxation, cascading and other implications that impact cost of doing business. Currently Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have different tax rates and tax bases (on services, property, agriculture and transportation). There are also definition issues across legislation dealing with provincial taxes.
Activities:
I. Desk review and preparation of the draft model framework.
II. 4 Focus Group Discussions on Taxation Reforms in all provinces.
- Quetta: October 2016
- Peshawar: 21st December 2016
- Karachi: 22nd March 2017
- Lahore: 13th April 2017
III. Focus Group Discussion in Islamabad in October 2016.
IV. 10 Key Informant Interviews.
V. Preparation of Provincial Taxation Model/Framework.
VI. Op-ed article discussing taxation model.
VII. Public seminar held in Islamabad on final draft and model for taxation reforms.
Status:
- 1st Phase: Complete
- 2nd Phase: On Going