The March 26 decision to withdraw incentives for new listings on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) makes no sense.
Just compare the number of listed companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange 5,439 with market capitalisation of $2.8 trillion with the miniscule 540 on the PSX and market capitalisation of $52 billion. It can be concluded that public money managers in Islamabad do not understand the importance of mobilising funds from the equity market by companies.
The tax credit granted to encourage companies for enlistment was abolished through Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2021. The concession had been granted through Finance Act 2010, which provided that “Where a taxpayer being a company opts for enlistment in any registered stock exchange in Pakistan on or before June 30, 2022, a tax credit equal to 20 per cent of the tax payable shall be allowed for the tax year in which the said company is enlisted and for the following three tax years: provided that the tax credit