South Asian civil society leaders, economists, and grassroots activists convened on 10 December 2025 to advance the call for tax justice as a cornerstone of equity and social protection in the region. The workshop, chaired by Dr. Arjun K. Karki of SAAPE/LDC Watch, highlighted the paradox of South Asia’s economic landscape, home to some of the world’s wealthiest billionaires as well as to the millions poorer.
Speakers emphasized that regressive taxation, loopholes, and exemptions for elites have entrenched inequality, while ordinary citizens shoulder the burden through indirect taxes. Case studies from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and the Maldives revealed common patterns: corporations and politically connected elites benefit from weak enforcement and privileges, while poor households, women, and informal workers face disproportionate costs. Participants underscored that progressive taxation is not only fiscal policy but a tool of social justice, capable of mobilizing resources for public service; education, health, social protection, climate resilience, and gender equality.
Recommendations from the workshop included introducing wealth and inheritance taxes, closing loopholes, taxing offshore assets, and reinvesting revenues into public services. The gathering concluded with a strong call to reclaim public wealth through equitable taxation, linking regional struggles to global campaigns for systemic transformation and demanding that the rich pay their fair share to ensure dignity and justice for all.