ISLAMABAD – Experts on economic and finance sectors Monday urged the government to do away with its double standards and procedural flaws, simplify the procedures, broaden the tax net and lower the taxation ratio to get the country out of economic mess. President Qaumi Welfare Foundation Mushahid Hussain Sayed Monday criticized the government for its double standards on economic front and for its contradictions in its taxation policy, saying that most of the ruling clique, including the prime minister as well as the cabinet ministers, don’t pay taxes but they were imposing extra burden on the masses.
Addressing the participants of the national seminar for taxation reforms, which was held under the aegis of Qaumi Welfare Foundation, Mushahid said educated middle class has to lead the process of a change by seeking solutions of national issues through policies above party-lines. He urged the political leadership to come up with new, alternative and innovative policies vis-a-vis the national economy.
Mushahid also criticized the government policies for having an urban bias and for ignoring the rural poor and agriculture base of the country which was the real power.
In this regard, he said, Pakistani skilled and semi-skilled manpower was a national asset which could lay foundation of economic development of the country. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq presided over the seminar. Among others, the seminar was also attended by eminent scholars, intellectuals, economists and experts while Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq, Executive Director Qaumi Welfare Foundation Imtyaz Ranjha, Dr Shireen M Mazari, Senator Seemi Siddiqui and others also addressed.
