The business lexicon's definition of the expression “Death taxes” has no practical application in Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: The business lexicon's definition of the expression “Death taxes” reproduced in your newspaper on the business pages (December 4) has no practical application in Pakistan. There used to be a law called The Estate Duty Act, 1950, for the levy and collection of estate duty on the principal value of movable and immovable properties (other than agricultural lands) which passed on to the legal heirs on the death of a wealthy person. This tax was abolished, and this was justified mainly on the grounds that large estates should be broken up and the wealth be distributed in order to reduce inequalities and disparities. The aforesaid Act was repealed in 1979 without debate or deliberation by any law-making forum in Pakistan.
Jameel Bhutto
Former federal secretary
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2010.
