Budget makes poor poorer: transgenders

Community decries tax on cosmetics

SUKKUR: Lambasting the 'anti-people' federal budget of 2016-2017 aimed at making the poor poorer and the rich richer, the transgender community gave the government an ultimatum to 'correct' themselves otherwise get ready for the formation of 'Aam Admi Party' in Pakistan.

This warning was issued to the politicians, especially those at the helm of affairs in the federal government, by the transgender community of Sukkur on Saturday.  "Every year, the government promises to bring out a people-friendly budget, but it always proves to be anti-people," said transgender social worker Sanam Fakir. Besides slapping merciless taxes on daily use commodities, the federal finance minister has also imposed heavy tax on cosmetics, which is simply intolerable for us, she said. "Everybody knows that [we] use more cosmetics than women," she claimed, adding that women can sometimes go out without makeup but a trans-woman cannot even think about going out without it.

Other transgenders, including Zahida, Maria and Muskan, expressed concerns regarding the imposition of taxes on cosmetics. We have to spend a major share of our income on cosmetics and slapping extra tax upon it is simply unbearable for us, said Muskan, adding that they use more makeup than women, especially while attending functions. She said that cosmetics were already costly and there is no need to levy any further tax. Zahida criticised the government officials of going on foreign tours, where they shop lavishly using the taxpayers' money. Such taxes have all the impact upon the poor and lower middle-class who earn little, added Maria.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2016.