Daily Times

Sir: In its efforts to bring Pakistan out of the crippling debt that threatens it today, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has levied additional taxes in numerous sectors. Some of these moves are certainly welcome, for example, the tax rate on the highest income bracket has been raised from 15 percent to 30 percent. Additional customs duties have also been levied on 5000 luxury items.

But it should not be forgotten that too many taxes add to difficulty of doing business, which will only make it harder for Pakistan to progress economically. Here, I believe the PTI government is guilty of some mistakes. For example, the additional taxes on gas will have wide ranging repercussions and also end up raising the cost of electricity. In the long run, this will make life difficult for all Pakistanis.

Regardless, the PTI government must keep moving forward. Its ultimate goal must be to be able to levy enough income tax on Pakistan’s elite class that it would be able to end Pakistan’s reliance on GST to keep state coffers from drying up completely.

KAINAT FATIMA

Lahore Cantt

Published in Daily Times, September 19^th 2018.