To propel Pakistan towards economic stability and growth, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has launched a comprehensive reform strategy, “ISLAAH: Immediate Reform Agenda - IMF and Beyond”. It will address Pakistan's urgent need for external financing exceeding USD 120 billion over the next five years, as highlighted by the recent IMF Report. Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Dr. Nadeem ul Haque, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to meet the National economic challenges. PIDE has outlined an agenda to tackle key areas like regulatory modernization, tax reform, market liberalization, energy sector efficiency, and improvements in agriculture and banking. The VC said, “The PIDE agenda outlines a series of innovative reforms designed to rejuvenate Pakistan's economic landscape. including debt restructuring intensified cooperation with the IMF and comprehensive tax reforms.

The anticipated impacts of these reforms are substantial, promising to catalyze investment, foster job creation, and facilitate higher GDP growth”. Addressing the historical event, Dr. Ahmad Waqar Qasim, Dr. Afia Malik, and Dr. Mahmood Khalid Senior Research Economists of PIDE, also took part in presenting PIDE's pioneering study. They stated that PIDE's economic reform initiative aims to streamline governance by addressing the burden of 122 regulatory bodies operating directly under the Federal Government, which currently account for over 50% of the GDP, as revealed by PIDE's Sludge Audits. To achieve this, we must prioritize clear rules, digitization, and market liberalization, putting an end to the bureaucratic penchant to overcome the 'Permissionistan' syndrome. Drawing inspiration from India's successful reforms in 1991, it's evident that piecemeal approaches won't suffice.

Instead, we advocate for the implementation of a regulatory guillotine, a proven strategy adopted by countries like Hungary, Mexico, South Korea, and the UAE, among others. Nadeem ul Haque further stated that amidst the urgent need for tax simplification and policy certainty, this budget season demands immediate attention towards streamlining taxes in a revenue-neutral manner and ensuring stability for a decade, with a commitment to refrain from introducing new taxes in each budget cycle. The adverse effects of tax uncertainty and instability, as highlighted by the PIDE State of Commerce Report, cannot be overstated, as they have driven investments underground, hindered firm growth, and impeded corporatization and listing. In addressing the income tax regime, we advocate for a uniform tax rate across all sources of income, with provisions for agriculture income losses carry-forward and adjustment, along with the elimination of the presumptive tax regime and taxes on turnover. Furthermore, we call for uniformity in taxation for AOPs, sole proprietors, and corporations, alongside reforms in inter-corporate dividend income and asset sales taxation.

Transitioning from withholding taxes to Advance Income Tax mechanisms is also essential. Harmonizing the sales tax system across goods and services, expediting the implementation of POS through outsourcing within six months, and transitioning to a VAT mode with consistent rates are imperative steps forward. Additionally, excise duties should be increased on products detrimental to health and the environment, such as tobacco and beverages, to promote public well-being and sustainability. In the realm of tax exemptions and administrative reforms, it's imperative to halt all forms of concessionary financing and discriminatory fiscal incentives among businesses. Streamlining tax administration through automation to minimize human interaction is essential, coupled with the abolition of the arbitrary 'filer' and 'non-filer' distinction, as well as the elimination of 'FBR Rates' for property valuations. Tax administration must evolve towards automation, with a focus on accountability and responsibility within a technologically adept framework.

It also demands administrative changes, particularly digitization, and market-driven documentation practices, ensuring policy consistency over a decade. The FBR's attention should be directed towards administrative efficiency to ensure the zero harassment in tax matters. In fostering economic growth, it's imperative to embrace openness by revitalizing our import-export dynamics. Currently, import substitution strategies have rendered all KSE-100 firms inward-looking, a trend that urgently requires reversal. Making exports a national priority demands a shift towards a pro-export trade policy, encouraging all large firms to venture into the global market and aspire to become multi-billion dollar entities. Facilitating this transition necessitates the promotion of trading houses as intermediaries in trade, potentially offering performance-based incentives such as tax rebates. Streamlining incorporation processes with no fees and facilitating easy listing are vital steps. Key decisions include the removal of additional customs and regulatory duties, phasing out SRO-based exemptions within three years, and eliminating tariff cascading.

Export subsidies should be contingent on performance, while corporate exporters could benefit from tax incentives tied to export values. Recognizing markets as efficient allocators of resources and wealth generators, it's crucial to address the over-regulation and bureaucratization stifling Pakistan's markets, fostering an environment conducive to investment. “The power sector crisis in Pakistan extends beyond mere electricity theft or 'kunda' connections; it reflects systemic issues rooted in inadequate management, planning, and centralized decision-making” Afia Malik added. Vice Chancellor PIDE further stated that Real estate stands as a focal point of discussion, yet its current state reveals a fragmented market marred by insider trading practices like 'qabza'. Reorganizing the market could yield substantial benefits, potentially unlocking a revenue gain of up to PKR 300 billion. Artificially administered prices, such as DC rates and FBR valuations, obstruct market development, compounded by the hindrance posed by multiple land rates for taxation. Regulatory incentivization of information hiding exacerbates transparency issues, with real estate agents wielding significant influence.

Regulatory negligence has led to file trading becoming the predominant transaction mode. Moreover, zoning rules contribute to urban sprawl and market segmentation. Key decisions entail the abolition of FBR valuation and DC rates, regulatory oversight of file trading by SECP to treat files as securities, and the separation of regulation from real estate business operations. Additionally, organizing the real estate brokerage sector, revising rental laws, and relaxing zoning regulations for vertical and mixed-use development across cities are imperative steps forward. State-captured real estate represents an underutilized but immensely valuable resource, hindering downtown growth and contributing to urban sprawl nationwide. With thousands of government houses occupying vast swathes of prime land in Islamabad alone, the unrealized, particularly evident in Islamabad where thousands of government-owned properties occupy prime land, amounting to a staggering PKR 2,278.6 billion in unrealized value.

Unlocking this potential through rezoning and market-based high-rise developments could attract over USD 58.8 billion in investment, create 351,000 job opportunities, add 44.4 million sq. ft of commercial space, and generate an annual rental income exceeding Rs. 446.8 billion. In the agriculture sector, bureaucratic approval processes hamper the seed industry, fostering the proliferation of low-quality seeds and imposing unnecessary costs on farmers. Despite the private sector's readiness to lead, inefficiencies in seed testing and approval procedures persist, resulting in limited access to high-quality seeds for small farmers. Addressing these challenges, estimated to yield a potential gain of PKR 1,722 billion, requires discontinuing commodity operations like wheat interventions, implementing market-driven solutions, and stimulating private investment through tax incentives.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan