The ordinary man’s burden

The budget has become an annual cut-and-paste ritual and it caters only to the needs of the elite. It has nothing to do with the ordinary people. The FBR has failed miserably to recover taxes from the elite and the entire burden has been passed on to the common man through indirect taxation. It is incorrect to suggest that ordinary people do not pay taxes. In fact, every individual from a beggar to a grade 22 officer pays taxes every time they buy something. Organized smuggling is still rampant, line losses and power theft appear to be on the rise and theft of gas runs into the billions of rupees. The costs of all these illegal activities are passed on to the poor people who are already suffering due to the high inflation rate. Meanwhile, the legislators have raised their own perks and privileges as though we are some rich kingdom. There has been no relief for the ordinary man. Sadly, no steps are being taken to cut government expenditures.

Mukhtar Ahmed

Karachi