Today’s white lies

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Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistani cricketing maestro who had made off-spin bowling sexy again, has revealed his retirement plan. One that is as safe in this country as real estate. He is launching his own fashion label.

Yes, coming soon, with the catchphrase “A new spin on fashion.” Clever.

Maybe the political parties also need to leverage this near inexhaustible demand for fashion to their advantage. Someone made a lot of money in ‘13 on those Imran Khan block-print shirts. It’s about time the party got a cut of that.

 

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In an effort to boost up our tax receipts, the government had decided to raise the taxed value of real estate. Yes, no longer would the properties be taxed at the laughably diminutive “DC rate” but will be taxed at the market rate.

This was quite a jump. This bold move was championed by finance minister Ishaq Dar and his advisor Haroon Akhtar.

Though the move was admirable, it led to a complete and utter slump in the property markets, with no one buying or selling any property.

Since property is just about the safest investment in the country, legions of generals, bureaucrats, industrialists, traders and the like have considerable investments in the sector. All of them seem to have pulled their weight and voila (!) the decision stands reversed.

Now, the government is sheepishly saying that the DC rate should be increased and that there should be baby steps towards the ideal.

Yeah, should’ve thought that one through.