Taxes and penalties should be collected based on the actual prices paid
KARACHI: This is with reference to the news item “Real estate sector representatives hint at giving strike call” (July 29). Why is the government even negotiating with such people? The law says that those who evade taxes must be penalised, yet these racketeers are forcing the government to accept their reduced property valuations and grant them an amnesty for past crimes. If the government gives in and announces an amnesty for them, what message will it convey to those who have been paying their due taxes all their lives? The government should strictly enforce the law and penalise those who have cheated on taxes. Taxes and penalties should be collected based on the actual prices paid. And, it should ignore their threat of going on strike. Even if they go on strike for the whole year, the loss to the exchequer will be negligible.
Shakir Lakhani
Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2016.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
