After many years of speculating that they have three million tax dodgers, out of a population of 190 million, within their cross hairs, the FBR has finally come up with a new scheme to capture these tax dodgers. Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 190 million, out of which the FBR collects taxes from only 0.5 percent of the population. Now the FBR wants to offer a tax amnesty scheme to all the tax dodgers of the past 65 years and is threatening them with the blockage of their CNIC and passport, effectively cancelling their Pakistani citizenship, which seems like a very bold move to increase the number of tax payers. Unfortunately, it is the only move FBR has been able to come up with in the past four years. Therefore, we all will be very supportive of it.
I would like to request one addition to balance this act: that is to offer a special “Lifetime Tax Free” amnesty scheme to the 0.5 percent Pakistani tax payers, who have been gracious enough to pay taxes for the past 65 years, that covered the cost of every Pakistani for 65 years. If you are going to offer amnesties to the crooks, then you should also offer amnesties to the honest citizens.
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar