30/04/21

ASIA: Pakistan calls for international cooperation on tax matters for sustainable development.

As published on radio.gov.pk, Friday 30th April, 2021.

Pakistan has called for international cooperation on tax matters to help fund cross-border public goods and crises-resilient health systems for pandemic recovery and achieving sustainable development.

In his remarks at ECOSOC's special meeting on international tax cooperation President of the UN Economic and Social Council, Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram underscored the need for member states to work together to stop the drainage of resources for sustainable development caused by illicit financial flows, as well as corporate and personal tax avoidance and evasion.

Ambassador Akram said there is an urgency to put an end to the 'tax havens' which enable profit-shifting practices by the big multinational corporations.

He said a minimum global corporate tax could provide a way forward.

He called for multinational companies to publish accounting and financial information on a country-by-country basis to improve tax transparency.