Convention between the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the government of the Repbulic of Latvia for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance

OF PAKISTAN
REVENUE DIVISION
FEDERAL BOARD OF REVENUE

NOTIFICATION
(Income Tax)

Islamabad, the November 01, 2024

S.R.O. 1734 (I)/2024.- WHEREAS the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Latvia signed the Convention for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance on the 28th day of April, 2023 at Warsaw, Poland, as set out in the Annexure to this Notification (the Convention);

AND WHERAS, in terms of Article 29 of the Convention, "The Governments of the Contracting States shall notify each other in writing through diplomatic channels when the constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with.";

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 107 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (XLIX of 2001), the Federal Government is pleased to direct that the provisions of the Convention shall have effect:

(a) in Pakistan, -

(i) with regard to taxes withheld at source, in respect of amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of July next following the date upon which the Convention enters into force; and

(ii) with regard to other taxes, in respect of taxable years beginning on or after the first day of July next following the date upon which the Convention enters into force.

(b) in Latvia, -

(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, on income derived on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force; and

(ii) in respect of other taxes on income and taxes on capital, for taxes chargeable for any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force.

CONVENTION BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

FOR THE ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

AND THE PREVENTION OF TAX EVASION AND AVOIDANCE

PREAMBLE

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the Republic of Latvia, (hereinafter referred to as Contracting States),

Desiring to further develop their economic relationship and to enhance their co-operation in tax matters,

Intending to conclude a Convention for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income without creating opportunities for non-taxation or reduced taxation through tax evasion or avoidance (including through treaty-shopping arrangements aimed at obtaining reliefs provided in this Convention for the indirect benefit of residents of third jurisdictions),

Have agreed as follows:

CHAPTER I

SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION

Article 1

PERSONS COVERED

This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

Article 2

TAXES COVERED

1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income all taxes imposed on total income, or on elements of income, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, as well as taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises.

3. The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:

a) in Latvia:

(i) the enterprise income tax (uznemumu ienakuma nodoklis);

(ii) the personal income tax (iedzivotaju ienakuma nodoklis);

(hereinafter referred to as "Latvian tax");

b) in Pakistan, the income tax and the super tax;

(hereinafter referred to as "Pakistan tax").

4. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes which have been made in their taxation laws.

CHAPTER II

DEFINITIONS

Article 3

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

a) the term "Latvia" means the Republic of Latvia and, when used in the geographical sense, means the territory of the Republic of Latvia and any other area adjacent to the territorial waters of the Republic of Latvia within which under the laws of Latvia and in accordance with international law, the rights of Latvia may be exercised with respect to the sea bed and its sub-soil and their natural resources;

b) the term "Pakistan" when used in a geographical sense means Pakistan as defined in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and includes any area outside the territorial waters of Pakistan which under the laws of Pakistan and international law is an area within which Pakistan exercises sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction with respect to the natural resources of the seabed and subsoil and superjacent waters;

c) the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Latvia or Pakistan, as the context requires;

d) the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;

e) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

f) the terms "enterprise of a Contracting State" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;

g) the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship, aircraft or railway vehicle operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State, except when the ship, aircraft or railway vehicle is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

h) the term "competent authority" means:

(i) in Latvia, the Ministry of Finance or its authorised representative;

(ii) in Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue or its authorised representative;

i) the term "national" means:

(i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;

(ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State.

2. As regards the application of the Convention at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which the Convention applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Article 4

RESIDENT

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "resident of a Contracting State" means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management, place of incorporation or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State or capital situated therein.

2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);

b) if the State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;

c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to determine by mutual agreement the Contracting State of which such person shall be deemed to be resident for the purposes of the Convention, having regard to its place of effective management, the place where it is incorporated or otherwise constituted and any other relevant factors. In the absence of such agreement, such person shall not be entitled to any relief or exemption provided by this Convention except to the extent and in such manner as may be agreed upon by the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

Article 5

PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

2. The term "permanent establishment" includes especially:

a) a place of management;

b) a branch;

c) an office;

d) a factory;

e) a workshop;

f) a warehouse;

g) a permanent sales exhibition or sales outlet, and

h) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

3. The term "permanent establishment" is deemed to include:

a) a building site, a construction, assembly, installation or supervisory activities in connection therewith, but only where such site, project or activities continue for a period of more than six months;

b) the furnishing of services, including consultancy and managerial services, by an enterprise through employees or other personnel engaged by an enterprise for such purposes, but only where activities of that nature continue (for the same or a connected project) within the Contracting State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve-month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned;

c) activities carried on offshore in a contracting state in connection with the exploration or exploitation of the sea bed and sub-soil and their natural resources, but only if such activities are carried on for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 30 days in any twelve-month period.

The duration of activities under subparagraphs a), b) and c) shall be determined by aggregating the periods during which activities in a Contracting State are carried on by closely related enterprises, provided that the activities of an enterprise in that Contracting State are connected with the activities in that Contracting State carried on by its closely related enterprises. The period during which two or more closely related enterprises are carrying on concurrent activities shall be counted only once for the purpose of determining the duration of activities.

4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:

a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, or display of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage or display;

CHAPTER III

TAXATION OF INCOME

Article 6

INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, any option or similar right to acquire immovable property, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources. Ships, aircraft and railway vehicles shall not be regarded as immovable property.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.

4. Where the ownership of shares or other corporate rights in a company entitles the owner of such shares or corporate rights to the enjoyment of immovable property held by the company, the income from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of such right to enjoyment may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the immovable property is situated.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7

BUSINESS PROFITS

1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment. However, profits derived from the sale of goods or merchandise of the same or similar kind as those sold, or from other business activities of the same or similar kind as those effected, through that permanent establishment may be considered attributable to that permanent

5. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

6. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

7. Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

Article 8

INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

1. Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships, aircraft or railway vehicles in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships in international traffic may be taxed in the other Contracting State, but the tax imposed in that other State shall be reduced by an amount equal to 50 per cent thereof. However, the tax so charged shall not exceed 4 per cent of gross amount received.

3. For the purposes of this Article, profits of an enterprise from the operation of ships, aircraft or railway vehicles in international traffic include:

a) profits from the rental on a bareboat basis of ships, aircraft or railway vehicles; and

b) profits from the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise;

where such rental or such use, maintenance or rental, as the case may be, is incidental to the operation of ships, aircraft or railway vehicles by the enterprise in international traffic.

4. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.

Article 9

ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES

1. Where

a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or

b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State,

and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 shall not apply where judicial, administrative or other legal proceedings have resulted in a final ruling that by actions giving rise to an adjustment of profits under paragraph 1, one of the enterprises concerned is liable to penalty with respect to fraud, gross negligence or willful default.

Article 10

DIVIDENDS

1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 12.5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

3. The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, mining shares, founders' shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11

INTEREST

1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 10 per cent of the gross amount of the interest.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in a Contracting State, and paid to the Government of the other Contracting State, including its political subdivisions and local authorities, the Central Bank or any financial institution wholly owned by that Government shall be exempt from tax in the first-mentioned State.

4. The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. The term "interest" shall not include any income which is treated as a dividend under the provisions of Article 10. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

4. Gains from the alienation of shares of the capital stock of a company, or of an interest in a partnership, trust or estate, the property of which consists directly or indirectly principally of immovable property situated in a Contracting State may be taxed in that State. In particular:

a) Nothing contained in this paragraph shall apply to a company, partnership, trust or estate, other than a company, partnership, trust or estate engaged in the business of management of immovable properties, the property of which consists directly or indirectly principally of immovable property used by such company, partnership, trust or estate in its business activities.

b) For the purposes of this paragraph, "principally" in relation to ownership of immovable property means the value of such immovable property exceeding fifty percent of the aggregate value of all assets owned by the company, partnership, trust or estate.

5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14

INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

1. Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed base, the income may be taxed in the other State but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base. For this purpose, where an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State stays in the other Contracting State for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned, he shall be deemed to have a fixed base regularly available to him in that other State and the income that is derived from his activities referred to above that are performed in that other State shall be attributable to that fixed base.

2. The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15

DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19 and 20 salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned, and

b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and

c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship, aircraft or railway vehicle operated in international traffic by an enterprise of Contracting State may be taxed in that State.

Article 16

DIRECTORS' FEES AND REMUNERATION OF TOP-LEVEL MANAGERIAL OFFICIALS

1. Directors' fees and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors or any other similar organ of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as an official in a top-level managerial position of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 17

ARTISTES AND SPORTSPERSONS

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to income derived from activities exercised in a Contracting State by an entertainer or a sportsperson if the visit to that State is wholly or mainly supported by public funds of one or both of the Contracting States or political subdivisions or local authorities thereof. In such case, the income shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the entertainer or sportsperson is a resident.

Article 18

PENSIONS AND SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article and paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid under a public scheme which is part of the social security system of a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19

GOVERNMENT SERVICE

1. a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that other State and the individual is a resident of that State who:

(i) is a national of that State; or

(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

2. a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that other State.

3. The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 20

STUDENTS

1. Payments which a student, an apprentice or a trainee who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training, receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 15, remuneration which a student, or an apprentice or trainee who is or was, immediately before visiting a Contracting State, a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training, receives for dependent personal services rendered in that first-mentioned State shall not be taxable in that State, provided that such services are directly related, and incidental, to his education or training or the remuneration for those services is necessary to supplement the resources for his maintenance. However, in any case the benefits of this paragraph shall not be granted for a period of more than two consecutive years from the date of his first arrival in the first-mentioned State.

Article 21

OTHER INCOME

1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, items of income of a resident of a Contracting State not dealt with in the foregoing Article of this Convention and arising in the other Contracting State may also be taxed in that other State in accordance with domestic laws.

CHAPTER IV

METHODS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

Article 22

ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

1. In Latvia, double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

Where a resident of Latvia derives income which, in accordance with this Convention, may be taxed in Pakistan, unless a more favourable treatment is provided in its domestic law, Latvia shall allow:

a) as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid thereon in Pakistan.

Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax in Latvia, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable, to the income which may be taxed in Pakistan.

b) For the purposes of sub-paragraph a), where a company that is a resident of Latvia receives a dividend from a company that is a resident of Pakistan in which it owns at least 10 per cent of its shares having full voting rights, the tax paid in Pakistan shall include not only the tax paid on the dividend, but also the appropriate portion of the tax paid on the underlying profits of the company out of which the dividend was paid.

2. In Pakistan double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

a) Where a resident of Pakistan derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Latvia whether directly or by deduction, Pakistan shall allow as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident an amount equal to the income tax paid in Latvia.

The amount of the tax to be deducted pursuant to the above provision shall not exceed the lesser of the tax which would have been charged on the same income in Pakistan under the rates applicable therein.

b) Where a resident of Pakistan derives income which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, shall be taxable only in Latvia, Pakistan may include this income in the tax base but only for purposes of determining the rate of tax on such other income as is taxable in Pakistan.

3. Where, in accordance with the law of a Contracting State, an exemption from, or a reduction of, taxes covered by this Convention is granted for the purpose of encouraging economic development in that Contracting State, the tax which would have been paid but for such exemption or reduction shall be deemed to have been paid for the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article. This provision, however, is applicable only for the first ten years during which this Convention is effective. This period may be extended by mutual agreement between the competent authorities. The Contracting States shall notify each other of such agreement through diplomatic channels.

CHAPTER V

SPECIAL PROVISIONS

Article 23

NON-DISCRIMINATION

1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

2. Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in either Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of the State concerned in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected.

3. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities.

4. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 7 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12 apply, interest, royalties, fees for technical services and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions, including applicability of taxes, as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

5. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

6. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

Article 24

MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE

1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of either Contracting State. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs. The competent authorities, through consultations, may develop appropriate bilateral procedures, conditions, methods and techniques for the implementation of the mutual agreement procedure provided for in this Article.

5. Where,

a) under paragraph 1, a person has presented a case to the competent authority of a Contracting State on the basis that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States have resulted for that person in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, and

b) the competent authorities are unable to reach an agreement to resolve that case pursuant to paragraph 2 within two years from the date when all the information required by the competent authorities in order to address the case has been provided to both competent authorities, any unresolved issues arising from the case shall be submitted to arbitration if the person so requests in writing. These unresolved issues shall not, however, be submitted to arbitration if a decision on these issues has already been rendered by a court or administrative tribunal of either State. Unless a person directly affected by the case does not accept the mutual agreement that implements the arbitration decision, that decision shall be binding on both Contracting States and shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic laws of these States. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this paragraph.

Article 25

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as

Article 29

ENTRY INTO FORCE

1. The Governments of the Contracting States shall notify each other in writing through diplomatic channels when the constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with.

2. The Convention shall enter into force on the date of the later of the notifications referred to in paragraph 1 and its provisions shall have effect:

a) in Latvia:

(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, on income derived on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force;

(ii) in respect of other taxes on income and taxes on capital, for taxes chargeable for any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the Convention enters into force.

b) in Pakistan:

(i) with regard to taxes withheld at source, in respect of amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of July next following the date upon which the Convention enters into force; and

(ii) with regard to other taxes, in respect of taxable years beginning on or after the first day of July next following the date upon which the Convention enters into force.

Article 30

TERMINATION

This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year starting five years after the year in which the Convention entered into force. In such event, the Convention shall cease to have effect:

a) in Latvia:

(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, on income derived on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice has been given;

(ii) in respect of other taxes on income and taxes on capital, for taxes chargeable for any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice has been given;

b) in Pakistan:

in respect of taxes withheld at source, for other taxes, for amounts paid or credited and for taxable periods on or after the first day of July next following the date on which written notice of termination is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done in duplicate at Warsaw this 28th day of April 2023, in the Latvian and English languages, both texts being equally authentic. In the case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

• Sd -
  For the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

• Sd -
  For the Government of the Republic of Latvia

PROTOCOL

At the signing of the Convention between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income, the undersigned have agreed that the following provisions shall form an integral part of the Convention.

With respect to Article 11, paragraph 3:

It is understood that a financial institution wholly owned by the Government of a Contracting State is:

a) in Latvia: the Development Finance Institution "Altum";
b) in Pakistan: the State Bank of Pakistan, the National Bank of Pakistan and the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan;
c) any other institution similar to those mentioned in sub-paragraphs a) and b), and agreed by mutual agreement between the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

With respect to Article 13:

It is understood that in the case of Latvia, the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 13 also apply to income from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in Latvia.

With respect to Article 23:

It is understood that nothing in this Article shall be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, reliefs or reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

With reference to paragraph 5 of Article 24:

a) the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall by mutual agreement establish a procedure in order to ensure that an arbitration decision will be implemented within two years from a request for arbitration as referred to in paragraph 5 of Article 24 of the Convention unless actions or inaction of a person directly affected by the case in respect of which the request for arbitration has been made hinder the resolution of the case or unless the competent authorities of the Contracting States and that person otherwise agree;

b) an arbitration panel shall be established in accordance with the following rules:

(i) an arbitration panel shall consist of three arbitrators who are individuals with expertise or experience in international tax matters;

(ii) each of the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall appoint one arbitrator, whether he is a national of either Contracting State or not. The two arbitrators appointed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall appoint the third arbitrator who serves as the chair of the arbitration panel in

accordance with the procedures agreed by the competent authorities of the Contracting States;

(iii) no arbitrator shall be an employee of the tax authority of either Contracting State, nor have dealt with the case in respect of which the request for arbitration has been made in any capacity. The third arbitrator shall not be a national of either Contracting State, nor have had his usual place of residence in either Contracting State, nor have been employed by either Contracting State;

(iv) the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall ensure that all arbitrators agree, in statements sent to each of the competent authorities of the Contracting States, prior to their acting in an arbitration proceeding, to abide by and be subject to the same confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations as those described in paragraph 2 of Article 25 of the Convention and under the laws of the Contracting States;

(v) each of the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall bear the costs of its appointed arbitrator and its own expenses. The costs of the third arbitrator and other expenses associated with the conduct of the arbitration proceedings shall be borne by the competent authorities of the Contracting States in equal shares;

c) the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall provide the information necessary for the arbitration decision to all arbitrators without undue delay;

d) an arbitration decision shall be treated as follows:

(i) an arbitration decision has no precedential value;

(ii) an arbitration decision shall be final, unless that decision is found to be unenforceable by a court of either Contracting State due to a violation of paragraph 5 of Article 24 of the Convention, of this paragraph or of any procedural rule determined in accordance with subparagraph a) that may reasonably have affected the decision. If the decision is found to be unenforceable due to the violation, the request for arbitration shall be considered not to have been made and the arbitration process shall be considered not to have taken place (except for the purposes of clauses (iv) and (v) of subparagraph b));

e) where at any time before the arbitration panel has delivered a decision on a case to the competent authorities of the Contracting States and to the person who made the request for arbitration in respect of the case:

(i) the competent authorities of the Contracting States reach a mutual agreement to resolve the case pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Convention; or

(ii) that person withdraws the request for arbitration; or

(iii) a decision concerning the case is rendered by a court or administrative tribunal of either Contracting State during the arbitration proceedings, the procedures under Article 24 of the Convention in respect of the case shall terminate;

f) where a case in respect of which a request for arbitration has been made is pending in litigation or appeal, the mutual agreement that implements the arbitration decision on the case shall be

considered not to be accepted by the person directly affected by the case if any person directly affected by the case who is a party to the litigation or appeal does not withdraw, within 60 days after receiving the decision of the arbitration panel, from consideration by the relevant court or administrative tribunal all issues resolved in the arbitration proceedings. In this case, the case shall not be eligible for any further consideration by the competent authorities of the Contracting States;

g) the provisions of paragraph 5 of Article 24 of the Convention and this paragraph shall not apply to cases falling within paragraph 3 of Article 4 of the Convention;

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate at Warsaw this 28th day of April 2023, in the Latvian and English languages, both texts being equally authentic. In the case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

• Sd -
  For the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

• Sd -
  For the Government of the Republic of Latvia

[C.No.2(5)Int.Taxes/96-LAT]

(Mir Badshah Khan Wazir)
Additional Secretary/Member (Inland Revenue-Operations)