Standpoint: Economist urges govt to frame pro-people policies

Suggests broadening the tax net, eliminating corruption.

KARACHI: Despite painting a rosy picture of the economy internationally, the current PML-N administration has failed to provide any relief to the people, said economist Dr Shahid Hassan Siddiqui.

“Instead of broadening the tax base, increased indirect taxes are being imposed on the people of the country,” he said while speaking at the plenary session of the 14th Convention of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) Sindh here on Monday.

“Pakistan will not need foreign funding or loans if the government decides to broaden the tax net, eliminate corruption and frame pro-people policies,” he said.

Siddiqui said it was right time for the government to bring economic policies that were in the interest of the common public, expand the tax net and put the country’s economy on the right track.

Speaking on the occasion, former federal interior minister and ex-Sindh governor Lieutenant General (retired) Moinuddin Haider said the government and the army were in agreement about eliminating internal security threats to transform the country into a stable economic power.

“Both the government and the army have now realised that political stability and elimination of security threats are vital for economic stability and progress,” he said.

“Our leaders know that peace and political stability is crucial for the Chinese investment of $45 billion to establish the economic corridor along with extraction and utilisation of the country’s coal, gold and copper reserves, building power plants and fetching more foreign investment.”

Three plenary and six technical sessions were held on the second day of the convention where senior faculty members of many universities and colleges as well as consultants spoke on different subjects.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2015.

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