This letter refers to the article ‘Poor nation, rich lifestyles’ (January 27, 2025) by Iftekhar A Khan. Impoverished Pakistanis are leaving in search of jobs in foreign countries, sometimes, at the expense of their lives, when the state is lavishly exhausting tax moneys on its officialdom. This, unfortunately, is an age-old problem which refuses to go away. The government is absolutely right in collecting more taxes. However, the tax revenues should mainly be spent on functions that enhance public welfare. We must be careful to ensure that we never serve half the pie or even more to the officialdom. Otherwise, what then will be left for the people or for the state?
Abbas R Siddiqi
Lahore