Demanding equitable taxes through music
The song also aims to make taxation fair in Pakistan through a socio-political message.
“Inequality is an unfortunate truth of society,” he commented. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
With the upcoming announcement of the 2015-2016 fiscal budget, TheNetwork of Consumer Protection, Indus Consortium and Tax Justice Coalition have launched popular singer Jawad Ahmad’s “Bhola Kya Karay – Wo Jiye Ya Maray” at the National Press Club demanding the abolition of government’s increasing reliance on indirect taxes.
At the ceremony on Monday, it was highlighted that the above-mentioned organisations have been working for consumer protection since a while and also practice rights-based advocacy on several issues. They work to make Pakistan tax fair and the song also aims to do the same through a socio-political message.
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Bhola, the song’s protagonist, represents a common man who is not directly a victim of government taxes yet suffers from a load of indirect taxes one way or the other. He is unable to fulfill the basic needs of his family due to the ‘unfair tax system, which fuels poverty and inequality’.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ahmad said he solemnly believes global capitalism is on the decline. “Inequality is an unfortunate truth of society,” he commented.
“Scandinavian countries do not have terrorism. This is because no one is threatened by the other. Similarly, there are no terrorists in Defence or Gulberg in Lahore but they are found in South Punjab and remote areas of Pakistan which is particularly because of disparity and poverty.
About workers’ rights, he said an agricultural worker in Punjab earns Rs6,000 a month and is denied the right to form a trade union.
The event’s coordinator Nadeem Iqbal said an unjust tax system leads to wealth concentration and unduly affects decision-making.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.
With the upcoming announcement of the 2015-2016 fiscal budget, TheNetwork of Consumer Protection, Indus Consortium and Tax Justice Coalition have launched popular singer Jawad Ahmad’s “Bhola Kya Karay – Wo Jiye Ya Maray” at the National Press Club demanding the abolition of government’s increasing reliance on indirect taxes.
At the ceremony on Monday, it was highlighted that the above-mentioned organisations have been working for consumer protection since a while and also practice rights-based advocacy on several issues. They work to make Pakistan tax fair and the song also aims to do the same through a socio-political message.
[/fbvideo]
Bhola, the song’s protagonist, represents a common man who is not directly a victim of government taxes yet suffers from a load of indirect taxes one way or the other. He is unable to fulfill the basic needs of his family due to the ‘unfair tax system, which fuels poverty and inequality’.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ahmad said he solemnly believes global capitalism is on the decline. “Inequality is an unfortunate truth of society,” he commented.
“Scandinavian countries do not have terrorism. This is because no one is threatened by the other. Similarly, there are no terrorists in Defence or Gulberg in Lahore but they are found in South Punjab and remote areas of Pakistan which is particularly because of disparity and poverty.
About workers’ rights, he said an agricultural worker in Punjab earns Rs6,000 a month and is denied the right to form a trade union.
The event’s coordinator Nadeem Iqbal said an unjust tax system leads to wealth concentration and unduly affects decision-making.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.