A welfare state

Prime Minister Imran Khan recently expressed that the country’s middle class and poor were left completely powerless and couldn’t walk on the path to progress and prosperity as the country remained prone to ‘elite capture’. He also shared his plans of creating a society where the elite and powerful groups won’t be above the law and where the government will support the country’s poor. It is good that the PM is thinking about the welfare of people. The first step that he should take is to reduce unnecessary perks and privileges and facilities that the ‘elite’ enjoy. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) should be asked to introduce ‘wealth tax’ to tax the rich. The country should also adopt austerity measures to reduce government expenditure.

The money saved through this austerity drive can be used for the welfare of low-income households. In this way, the PM can meet his goal of creating a more equitable Pakistan.

Abbas R Siddiqi

Lahore