Pakistan government earned only Rs. 36.423 trillion through tax revenue to meet the public expenditure of Rs. 72 trillion over the last ten years.

Despite having a large tax potential, the country was unable to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio to that of developing countries (15 percent of GDP).

According to a report compiled by ProPakistani based on various reports of the Ministry of Finance, the tax-to-GDP decreased during the three years of the ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s tenure from 13 percent to 11.1 percent. The report shows that Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio increased to 13 percent during the fiscal year 2017–18, the last fiscal year of the Pakistan Muslim League-N under prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Fiscal Year

Tax Collection

% Of Tax-to-GDP

2020-21 Rs. 5273 billion 11.1%

2019-20 Rs. 4748 billion 11.4%

2018-19 Rs. 4473 billion 11.6%

2017-18 Rs. 4,467 billion 13.0%

2016-17 Rs. 3,969 billion 12.5%

2015-16 Rs. 3,660 billion 12.4%

2014-15 Rs. 3,018 billion 11.0%

2013-14 Rs. 2,564 billion 10.1%

2012-13 Rs. 2,199 billion 9.6%

2011-12 Rs. 2,052 billion 9.9%

Source: Pro Pakistani