LAHORE: The two-day “National Tax Justice Youth Film Festival” and National Youth Peace Festival 2018 themed “youth, peace and sustainable development” ended at Ali Institute of Education on Tuesday.
The event was aimed at sensitising youth regarding injustices and exploitation on part of the country’s leadership since the tax system in Pakistan is considered a very “technical issue”.
The sole objective of both the festivals was to raise awareness among university students and youngsters to encourage a direct tax culture in the country instead of burdening the poor with additional taxes like sales tax, value-added tax, income tax and petroleum levies.
University students from all over the country participated in the film festival and 19 short films and documentaries were shortlisted to be screened for the contest.
The first half of the event on Tuesday included the “National Tax Justice Youth Film Festival” in which short films of youngsters from across Pakistan were screened.
Oxfam Pakistan Programme Director Adeel Qaiser said, “Pro-poor tax laws and legislation along with a fair tax system alone can lead to a better Pakistan. It is the duty of every citizen to pay his or her fair share of tax as it is the duty of the government to make sure that the tax rupees collected are spent in a way that benefits the poor.”
Provincial Health Minister Punjab Dr Yasmeen Rashid, MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik, MPAs Sania Aashiq and Uzma Kardar said tax system in the country was considered a “technical issue” and lauded the festival organisers’ efforts.
Renowned singer and social activist Jawad Ahmed stated that in Pakistan, political leadership is doing politics on the pretext of the poor public but no one bothers to devise policies in the interest of common man. He has also launched his new song “Yeh Tera Na Mera Hai” focused on the inequalities in society.