Pakistan Tax Bar criticises misuse of public funds in letter to lawmakers

Tax Bar raises concerns over taxpayer fund expenditures in letter to Finance Committee Chairman Naveed Qamar

The Pakistan Tax Bar has raised serious concerns over the misuse of public funds collected from taxpayers.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Naveed Qamar, the Tax Bar expressed deep reservations about the expenditures of tax payer’s money.

The letter called for transparency regarding the spending of tax revenues, requesting information on where and how the funds are being used. The request for this information was made under Article 19A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to access information.

According to the letter, taxpayer funds are being used carelessly, with particular reference to government delegations’ foreign trips.

 The Tax Bar emphasized that money collected from taxpayers should not be spent on such trips. Furthermore, the letter pointed out that with a continuing shortfall in the national treasury, the target for tax collection is also falling short.

The letter also highlighted an increase in government’s non-developmental expenses and the salaries of public sector employees. The Tax Bar has urged the Standing Committee to form a high-level committee, in collaboration with taxpayers, to address these issues at the national level.

Additionally, the letter proposed that no funds for foreign trips by government delegations should be released without the approval of a taxpayers' committee. It further suggested that all non-developmental and government expenses should also require committee approval before funds are disbursed.