Paying taxes

Letter December 16, 2012
How else is the country to improve its poor tax-to-GDP ratio if its lawmakers and even ministers don’t pay tax?

KARACHI: The report that as many 67 per cent of members of parliament and 62 per cent of ministers did not file their tax returns in 2011 is shocking. Quite frankly, it is a shame for that all these MPs and ministers, who give us lectures in public gatherings and on current affairs and political talk shows, don’t bother following the basics of the law.

How else is the country to improve its poor tax-to-GDP ratio if its lawmakers and even ministers don’t pay tax? The question also arises that if these politicians cannot lead by example in paying taxes how can they demand that the rest pay their fair share.

Other than that, the report also makes one wonder what is the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) doing. Does it have any authority to catch these politicians and if so, why does it choose to not exercise it?

Mubashir Mahmood

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2012.