Islamabad may face new tax as city becomes autonomous entity

Sources said that if the federal capital is made an independent unit, proposals have been created to introduce a new local tax in Islamabad and the revenue collected will be used on basic services and administrative structure within the city.

Early recommendations are for levies to fund hospitals, schools, colleges and other educational institutions, welfare operations and the administrative framework in Islamabad, sources added. The suggestions are likely to be addressed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team during the upcoming economic review while the new tax could be adopted in the budget of the next fiscal year.

No definitive estimate of amount to be collected has yet been prepared. Sources claimed the planned tax was aimed at generating fiscal room for Islamabad, considering the infrastructure requirements of the city.

The fifth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is scheduled to be reviewed in Pakistan’s next round of talks with the IMF. The fifth review is also listed as a program milestone in the IMF program materials.

Sources said that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will prepare tax suggestions in the first instance. These will be laid before the subcommittee created to study the question of taxation in connection with the infrastructure necessary to make of Islamabad an independent unit.

After approval by the relevant subcommittee, the recommendations will be referred to a committee chaired by the minister for planning. After approval there, the plans would be sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and then completed after approval by the IMF.

The Ministry of Finance has asked all relevant ministries and agencies to collect the necessary data and reports in preparation for the economic review talks with the IMF.

The relevant ministries will brief the IMF delegation on structural benchmarks and targets for economic reform, sources added. Also reforms in the energy sector will continue to be an important element of the talks and targets relating to circular debt in the electricity and gas industry are also expected to be discussed.

Sources said that if the talks between Pakistan and the IMF were successful it would open the way for the delivery of the fifth tranche under the present loan arrangement. Upon successful completion of the evaluation, the total estimated distribution would be $1.2 billion. Under the fifth tranche, Pakistan is scheduled to receive roughly $1 billion, while another $200 million could be granted to mitigate losses caused by climate change.

According to reports, the planned roadmap also include a new mechanism for the utilization of municipal taxes and distribution of resources. The administrative structure is being put in place and financial affairs are being coordinated with the international lender’s recommendations likely to be part of the effort to make the tax system more effective.