- Can the ruling party do the job alone?
With the Army supporting government’s tough initiatives for improvement of fiscal management, this is the most suitable time to bring about much-needed improvements in the working of the FBR and make everyone with taxable income pay his or her due share. As Prime Minister Imran Khan has put it, only one percent of Pakistanis are bearing the burden of 220 million people. Despite the PM’s spirited appeals to respond enthusiastically to the tax amnesty scheme, the outcome has been less than satisfactory. This is despite the reminder by the chief executive that government institutions were in possession of full data concerning the wealth and undeclared assets owned by Pakistanis at home and abroad.
The weak response led Mr Khan to direct the FBR to launch a massive crackdown on holders of benami assets. Keeping the sensitivities of the business class in view, the PM has asked the FBR not to harass the business community and industrialists, as without their cooperation the country could not get rid of the prevailing financial crunch. FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi would now hold meetings with the chambers of commerce and industry of Lahore and Faisalabad. On Thursday Mr Khan would visit Karachi along with his team of financial managers to take the business community into confidence on the government’s reforms agenda. A section of the community remains unconvinced that the government can meet the yearly targets agreed with the IMF.
The sudden rise in power and gas tariff and in the prices of commodities of everyday use has disturbed the lives of millions of common people. This is the largest, and potentially the most volatile, section of population. The pressure on them is not going to end in a year or two. There is a need under the circumstances for all political parties to join hands to find ways and mean to successfully navigate the rough seas. As the COAs has put it, while the country is going through a difficult economic situation, everyone needs to fulfill their responsibilities. For this the PTI leadership has to shed its holier-than-thou persona. Mr Khan needs to approach the opposition leaders himself for seeking cooperation.