International Centre for Tax and Development

Buy a pack of cigarettes in Pakistan today, and there is a one-in-three chance it carries no valid tax stamp. Even though, since 2021, every legal pack has been built to report its own production to the government in real time. Technology can see the problem. Whether it can fix it is the question. Industry estimates put the untaxed share above half the market, with revenue losses of up to Rs 343 billion (US$1.2 billion) a year.

ICTD contributed an analysis to Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s report, titled ‘Tax & Revenue Mobilisation over the past decade: Significant untapped potential remains a challenge’. Research from the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) shows that sustained revenue gains depend on getting the basics of tax administration right.

ICTD is co-hosting two side events at the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings, taking place in Bangkok between 12 – 18 October. The Annuals present a unique opportunity to connect with global leaders from governments, industry, international and multilateral organisations and civil society.

Bangladesh has begun work on AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) which it aims to launch within 18 to 24 months, according to the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Telecommunications and ICT speaking in New York last week. Key to its implementation will be a central digital ID as the main means of accessing various government services. Digital inclusion, however, depends on the human and institutional arrangements that make such online systems usable.

Last week, 19 of the participants in ICTD’s Research on Tax and Development course successfully completed the final in-person module in Lusaka, Zambia. After nine months of focused online training and close mentorship done in parallel to their day jobs, participants concluded the course by presenting their draft research proposals to collect feedback from peers before the official submission in December. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Suong presenting her draft research proposal on tax compliance in Vietnam.

New interactive site on taxing tobacco in West Africa Did you know cigarettes have actually become more affordable in Africa over the last four years? Find out how tobacco taxes can fix this Tobacco taxation shows insufficient progress in African countries The ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (or COP 9) wrapped up on November 13.

New interactive site on taxing tobacco in West Africa Did you know cigarettes have actually become more affordable in Africa over the last four years? Find out how tobacco taxes can fix this Tobacco taxation shows insufficient progress in African countries The ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (or COP 9) wrapped up on November 13.

Why digitalisation alone won’t fix Africa’s tax systems: 6 steps for real impact For many African tax administrations seeking to boost revenue, digital tools appear transformative but is it really the case?

From real estate to crypto in Uganda: navigating tax policy in a changing world In this interview, Ian Kananura Mwesigye, a 2018/19 alum of ICTD’s Research on Tax and Development course, reflects on his career journey, the growing importance of research-informed tax policy, and why domestic revenue mobilisation will be central to Africa’s future.

Invitation to submit proposal of tender of service provision Managing in-country project support for ‘Traditional Leaders, Taxation, and State Building in Sierra Leone’   The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is seeking a Sierra Leone-based research management company to implement and manage in-country arrangements and payments to service providers for a research project in Sierra Leone.