SDPI conference: Pro-people reforms, empowered LGs, progressive tax structures urged

At the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s 29th conference in Islamabad, political figures and economists called for progressive taxation, stronger local governments and broad governance reforms. Business Recorder reported that speakers framed these changes as necessary for fairer, sustained growth, and said fiscal discipline should be paired with political agreement and consultation.

Speakers highlighted a narrow tax base, debt-servicing costs and pressure on public spending, while differing on the main priorities for reform. Proposals included giving districts more authority and predictable funding, reviewing electricity’s fixed and variable charges, reducing government borrowing, and broadening taxes on property, retail, wholesale and agricultural income. Hafiz Ahmed Pasha estimated that a fairer tax base could raise an extra 3 to 3.5 percent of GDP.