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Adverse affects of gender insensitive tax laws on women highlighted

By our correspondents
March 31, 2017

Islamabad

A large number of university students from Punjab and Sindh came together to highlight gender insensitive tax laws and their adverse affect on women’s economic, social and political life through films at the second ‘National Tax Justice Youth Film Festival’ held at Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi.

Focused on creating awareness on fiscal justice in Pakistan, the film festival under its ‘Fair Tax Campaign’ provided a unique platform and opportunity for the youth of Pakistan to showcase their talent through short films and documentaries. A total of Thirty eight entries by students from 28 public and private universities of Pakistan submitted their entries in the National Youth Film festival under the theme of “Gender and tax nexus”.

The campaign flagship and focus is on student advocacy and the Youth Film Festival is critical for shifting the terms of debate by connecting with new generation to understand how fair tax works for them and what is the connection of fair taxation with basic human rights.

During his welcome remarks Country Director Oxfam in Pakistan Mohammed Qazilbash, said pro-poor tax laws and legislation along with a fair tax system can only lead to better Pakistan. “It is the duty of every citizen of Pakistan to pay their fair share of tax; as it is the duty of the Government of Pakistan to make sure that the tax rupees collected is spent in a way that benefits the poor,” he said.

Where many believe that inequality is inevitable or is a necessary consequence of globalisation and technological progress, however an Oxfam study in Pakistan has shown that deliberate political and economic choices by the “powerful” have led to greater inequality. Extreme inequality is holding back growth and development in Pakistan. It plagues Pakistani society in general dimensions and is fueling a destructive, self-perpetrating spiral of social polarisation that is hindering economic growth.

On one hand, the richest ten percent of Pakistanis have accumulated colossal assets in the last three decades while the poorest 72 million people are struggling for land entitlement, access to financial services, education, health facilities and every basic right that has been promised in the constitution of Pakistan. The situation of women is worst with no access to land, unfair wages, fewer employment opportunities and no access to financial services.

Speaking at the occasion, chief guest at the event, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Jeannette Seppen said she was very impressed to see so many talented young students be engaged in the subject of taxes through film. “Nobody likes to pay taxes, however, taxes are a key source of income for any democratic government to finance sustainable development and economic growth for all” she said.

Adding to that, Jeannette Seppen said that film offers a creative and accessible means to talk about and address this complex issue. It also is a great way to introduce to a large audience, young and old, male and female, current and future tax payers, the necessity and importance of a sound fiscal system. Taxes are a responsibility for all, for the government to spend the taxes raised equitably and transparently and for citizens to pay them in accordance with prevailing laws of the country they live in.”

Social activist and singer Jawad Ahmed who has been advocating for fair tax policy also addressed the participants of the film festival. He said women have been deprived from the basic rights due to political and economic system which is product of new liberalism. He refereed that only one percent women of the world have accesses to financial resources.

Dr. Farzana Bari, former head of gender studies at the Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, said women in Pakistan are confronted with complex challenges. She said that both urban as well rural women have lack of accesses to economic and political opportunities. “Patriarchal society has confined women’s role under the wall of house” she said.

The chief guest along with Professor Vice Chancellor, Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad distributed awards, shield and certificates among the winners and participants of the film festival. Prominent social activists, journalists, artists, film makers, academics and government officials attended the festival. The event was organised by Indus Consortium in collaboration with Oxfam in Pakistan, ARID University and RISE for Equality.