Fiscal & Incentives Expert - REMIT Programme

Fiscal & Incentives Expert - SEZs Phase-Out Implementation Plan  

Background

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) Programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), provides technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan to improve the business environment, attract investment, and support sustainable economic growth.

Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) regime has delivered limited results due to structural and governance challenges, including high land and energy costs, infrastructure gaps, and weak investor facilitation. While fiscal incentives have been a central feature of the SEZ framework, their effectiveness in driving industrial relocation, exports, and competitiveness has been limited, while the fiscal cost of open-ended, profit-based incentives has continued to rise.

In response, and in line with commitments under Pakistan’s IMF programme, the Government of Pakistan is undertaking a fundamental reorientation of its SEZ policy framework through the formulation of an SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan. This plan aims to progressively transition from profit-based incentives toward calibrated cost- and performance-based incentive mechanisms, while honouring existing contractual obligations and safeguarding investor confidence. As part of this effort, REMIT seeks to engage a Fiscal & Incentives Expert to provide specialised technical expertise on fiscal analysis, incentive rationalisation, and calibration.

Job Summary

The objective of the assignment is to provide technical expertise to support the Government of Pakistan in the fiscal and incentive-related design and implementation of the SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan, with a focus on Phase A (Planning and Assessment) of the IMF-mandated reform programme.

The Fiscal & Incentives Expert will support the Board of Investment (BoI) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) by leading analytical work on the fiscal costs, effectiveness, and sustainability of existing SEZ incentive regimes and by designing alternative cost- and performance-based incentive models aligned with IMF requirements. The role will focus on conducting fiscal diagnostics, cost analysis, and calibration exercises at zone and enterprise levels, and on translating analytical findings into implementable policy options.

The Expert will work closely with the SEZ Policy & Governance Lead, IMF Negotiation Expert, and other team members, and will contribute to technical engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by preparing fiscal analysis, briefing materials, and responses to IMF queries. Through rigorous analysis and policy advisory support, the Fiscal & Incentives Expert will help ensure that the proposed SEZ transition framework is fiscally sustainable, investor-credible, and operationally feasible.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fiscal & Incentives Expert will be responsible for providing specialised fiscal and analytical support for the SEZ Phase-Out Implementation Plan. Key duties and responsibilities include:

·       Conduct detailed fiscal diagnostics of existing SEZ incentive regimes, including tax exemptions, customs concessions, and other fiscal benefits at zone and enterprise levels.

·       Undertake a comprehensive fiscal cost analysis of SEZs, covering direct and indirect costs such as incentives, land, infrastructure, utilities, and administrative expenditures.

·       Develop and apply calibration models to assess the fiscal impact, efficiency, and investor response of alternative cost- and performance-based incentive options.

·       Support the design of cost-based and performance-linked incentive frameworks that are fiscally sustainable, IMF-compliant, and aligned with Pakistan’s industrial and investment objectives.

·       Analyse enterprise- and developer-level data to assess incentive uptake, utilisation patterns, and fiscal exposure under different transition scenarios.

·       Prepare technical inputs for the Concept Note, including sections related to incentive reform rationale, fiscal implications, calibration outcomes, and proposed transition pathways.

·       Provide analytical support for IMF technical discussions, including preparation of fiscal briefs, costing notes, and responses to IMF queries related to incentive rationalisation.

·       Support the design and assessment of a pilot SEZ, including modelling the fiscal and incentive implications of piloted cost-based incentive structures.

·       Contribute to stakeholder consultations by presenting fiscal findings, explaining incentive reform options, and incorporating feedback into refined analytical outputs.

·       Provide technical quality assurance for fiscal and incentive-related deliverables, ensuring methodological robustness, consistency with IMF benchmarks, and alignment with TOR objectives.

·       Deliver senior-level briefings and presentations to government leadership, including BoI, SIFC, and other relevant forums, clearly communicating reform options, risks, and recommendations.

·       Work closely with the SEZ Policy & Governance Lead and REMIT team to ensure coherence between fiscal analysis, legal reforms, and governance recommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

·       Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Public Finance, Fiscal Policy, or a closely related discipline.

·       Minimum 12 years of professional experience in fiscal analysis, incentive design, public finance reform, or related areas, preferably in the context of industrial policy or investment climate reforms.

·       Demonstrated experience conducting fiscal cost-benefit analysis of tax and non-tax incentives, including estimation of direct and indirect fiscal impacts.

·       Proven expertise in designing and applying calibration models, fiscal scenarios, and sensitivity analyses to inform policy decisions.

·       Strong understanding of SEZ incentive regimes, tax policy instruments, and cost-based versus profit-based incentive frameworks in emerging markets.

·       Proven experience advising governments, international organisations, or donor-funded programmes on incentive rationalisation, subsidy reform, or fiscal sustainability.

·       Familiarity with IMF fiscal conditionalities, structural benchmarks, and incentive reform requirements is highly desirable.

·       Ability to translate complex fiscal analysis into clear, actionable policy recommendations for senior policymakers.

·       Demonstrated experience participating in and technically supporting stakeholder and investor consultations, including synthesising feedback and ensuring its appropriate incorporation into final document.

·       Excellent stakeholder coordination, policy advisory, and strategic communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior government leadership and diverse technical counterparts.

Reporting line

·       The Fiscal & Incentives Expertwill work closely with REMIT team and will report to REMIT Team Lead and Investment Climate Lead. The assignment will require close engagement with key governments stakeholders along with presentation and review of deliverables by REMIT team, FCDO and other key stakeholders.

Closing Date: 18 March 2026