This is with regards to the article, ‘IKnomics – walking the PTI talk’, published on 29th December. First, we need to make sure of the credible promises for improvements and increases in public goods and services: infrastructure, public transportation, education, health and social security. If people see improvements in their standard of living by paying taxes, they’ll be more inclined to pay. Governments should show people that if they pay more through taxation, then their expenses will be reduced by the state through cheaper education or healthcare, for example.
Secondly, governments should be more transparent about how much tax is collected, from whom it is collected (geography, profession-wise), and where it is eventually spent. A major problem of the government and the public will be solved this way. On a more purely political front, this initiative can be linked to ensuring that Pakistan is sovereign, that it can pursue its own interests domestically and internationally without fear. These measures, if carefully, clearly and systematically implemented should most certainly ensure that Pakistan collects more tax and governments are truly able to serve the people. It is simply a matter of will. One simply requires optimism of the will.
