A tax rebate

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has not done anything for the welfare of senior citizens so far. Many developed countries give tax concession to senior citizens, but this isn’t the case in our country. I am a family physician and have been running a private clinic for the last fifty years. I qualify to pay the professional tax, imposed under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Act, which is increased on a regular basis. During the last five years, the tax has been increased from Rs1,500 to an amount close to Rs10,000.

Similarly, the annual renewal of the registration of clinic with the Health Care Commission has now shot up to Rs6,000 from Rs2,100. It is worth mentioning that even the FBR gives a 50 percent tax rebate to senior citizens. On the other hand, the provincial government increases the tax exorbitantly every year. The authorities concerned are requested to please look into the matter to facilitate senior citizens by not only entitling to a 50 percent rebate, but by also providing concessions in public transport fares, library fee, medical fee and other day-to-day life activities.

Dr Munawar Aziz

Abbottabad