Shahbaz Rana

IMF taxes squeeze salaried class! The salaried class has paid Rs144 billion in income tax in this fiscal year, which is Rs90 billion more than the taxes paid by retail and realty sectors, highlighting a widening disparity under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme that has endorsed a 50% cut for real estate and a fixed tax scheme for retailers. tribune.com.pk/story/2633362…

Govt plans power market overhaul! The government has proposed a two-tier business model for privatised power distribution companies under which a successful bidder would retain poles and wires but could auction the functions of selling electricity, billing and collection to other private contractors, including legacy capacity payments. tribune.com.pk/story/2639808…

Welcome back Miss @AbsaKomal. You are a bold and brave face of the media. Many congratulations.🎉

RT @Rashidlangrial: Pakistan from space at night, 2012 and 2026. In fourteen years our lit-up land grew by about a quarter, and our urban p…

Rs5tr spent in defiance of Constitution! The federal government has "unconstitutionally" spent over Rs5 trillion on ministries functioning in the provincial domain since the 18th Amendment, according to proceedings of a Senate functional committee panel that on Tuesday barred the release of any further funds for them. tribune.com.pk/story/2639650…

CDWP, ECNEC had flagged flaws design flaws of Tarbela project! Pakistan's two highest project sanctioning bodies had ordered review of lapses on part of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in selection of consultants and "weaker design" of the Rs316 billion worth Tarbela 5th Extension Project, official documents revealed on Tuesday. tribune.com.pk/story/2639690…

Pakistan’s four month $14.7 billion remittances despite very healthy growth of 14% in the middle of war are ONLY enough to finance the four-month trade deficit of $14.6 billion. So all the other obligations like profit reparation by MNCs and net $11 Billion external debt payments are funded by either taking new foreign loans or buying dollars from local market that has discouraged rupee appreciation. Getting out of the IMF clutches is not in the sight

Govt seeks $1.7b despite breaches! Pakistan plans to draw the full $1.7 billion multi-tranche World Bank loan to widen the tax base and align expenditure with the Constitution, even though the lender has twice rated implementation on the approved $600 million tranche as moderately satisfactory and the government has itself breached one of the package's conditions twice. tribune.com.pk/story/2639486…

It’s good evidence-based analysis of poor output in agriculture sector despite heavily subsidized regime. But the farmer’s son can never be better off after leaving farming or not becoming part it until he gets modern and skilled education and our factories consistently run at over 6% rate for at least one decade.

Realty sector gets Rs34b tax relief! The government's decision to cut real estate income taxes by half has so far extended Rs34 billion in benefits to the influential sector in this fiscal year, contrary to the marginalised salaried class whose tax payments jumped by Rs13.5 billion to Rs193 billion. tribune.com.pk/story/2639194…

Trade gap widens 16% to $14.6b! Pakistan's trade deficit increased 16% to nearly $15 billion during the first four months of this fiscal year after imports hit $26 billion amid continued sluggish export growth, a gap that may keep Islamabad dependent on foreign creditors longer than planned. tribune.com.pk/story/2639038…

Govt indecisive about taking action against 1.2 million traders! The government has digitally identified nearly 1.2 million shopkeepers who own a single shop but did not opt for the new scheme, including 6,000 traders who can be physically verified, but has not yet moved against them amid a view not to take adverse action for another three months. tribune.com.pk/story/2638872…

ECC approvesRs275 billion for six water projects, Rs84 b for armed forces! The government on Wednesday approved Rs275 billion in supplementary grants to fund six priority water projects, including three mega dams whose cumulative cost has escalated 176% and which are now being funded by cash grants taken from the provinces. tribune.com.pk/story/2638697…