Incorrect assumptions

This refers to the article, ‘Why governments fail’ (September 19) by Dr A Q Khan. I was surprised to read the note at the end – “Expatriates have been scared away from investing in real estate in Pakistan due to our taxation policies”. Evidently, this is something he knows nothing about. Due to the new taxation policies, property prices have actually fallen by more than 30 percent, which should be very attractive to expatriates.

If the writer cares to read more on the subject, he will discover that investors and speculators had caused property prices to go through the roof, and the common man was finding it impossible to buy a plot or apartment at such high prices. My advice to the writer is to write only on what he is familiar with.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi