LAHORE: I was shocked to read the report in the media recently that almost 70 per cent of members of parliament in Pakistan did not file an income tax return in 2011. Who can believe that MNAs and senators are poor and have no assets or taxable income?
It is a known fact that to contest an election for the National Assembly, at least Rs30-40 million is needed. So how can so many legislators not pay any tax? I remember in the past that a former head of the FBR had suggested that a person’s CNIC number would be the same as the national tax number. Why was this sensible proposal not implemented? The fact of the matter is that every Pakistani who uses telephones, electricity, gas, fuel or buys anything, is paying taxes — ie., indirect tax.
If the people’s representatives are evading paying tax, how can ordinary Pakistanis be expected to pay? The other reason people don’t want to pay tax is because they think their money will not be used properly and will instead be squandered.
ST Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2012.
