Pakistan Begins Major Tax Reforms

Pakistan's main tax collection agency, the Central Board of Revenue, yesterday launched an ambitious four-year reform plan costing $150m (£80m), more than two thirds of which is to be funded by the World Bank. Pakistan has only 1.1m taxpayers from a population of 150m. Analysts say people avoid paying taxes for fear of harassment by a notoriously corrupt tax department. Under the new plan, more taxpayers would be encouraged to assess their dues themselves. Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad