It is with my tax money that the singer was provided services by Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi.
ISLAMABAD: With reference to your report “Rahat returns to Pakistan” (February 23), I would like to point out that he needs to pay his taxes, including on the income he earns because of the concerts he gives in India and any other foreign country. The services provided by our High Commission in New Delhi to him were not free, though he may not have had to pay a penny.
People in this country, such as myself, pay their taxes to keep the state functioning and keeping our institutions running. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan should not be under the delusion that the state ought to have protected him because he is an artist. Being an artist is fine and good but it is people like him who must pay their taxes. It is with my tax money that he was provided services by Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi.
Asim Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2011.
