Sarfaraz Khan, a low-paid sanitary worker, may have to contribute more to the exchequer in case of expected upward revision of taxes, but he has little sway to influence the shaping of next year’s budget of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. “There is talk in the newspapers and television, saying the government is imposing more taxes on us, but I don’t know where I can make a difference in terms of letting the rulers know my problems,” explained Khan, when asked about his role in the current budget making process.
In many developed and developing countries, pre-budget consultations with stakeholders and public debates are organised to incorporate the citizens’ voice in budget proposals. However, it does not happen here, neither at the national nor provincial level. “Parliament and for that matter the provincial assembly is the custodian of public trust and funds so it has a greater responsibility to undertake when it comes to the budget-making process,” former finance minister Iftikhar Mohmand told an open forum on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget 2011-12 held on Tuesday.
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of University of Peshawar, in collaboration with Internews, organised the event as part of a three-day training session for the reporters covering budgets. The former minister said without reflecting the will of the people and taking them into confidence about the budget-making process, it would be impossible to build trust among the public and parliament.
“Direct taxes should be imposed instead of indirect taxes as it would reduce the miseries of the people,” Dr Muhammad Naeem told the participants. “The budget deals directly with people, therefore people are taking keen interest and they can elaborate their problems and desires better than bureaucrats discussing them in offices and committees,” he added. Economic Department Chairman Professor Dr Muhammad Naeem and Journalism and Mass Communication Department Chairman Dr Altaf Ullah Khan were also present on the occasion.
