Well, the budget is finally here. I purposefully avoided listening to the budget speech because I know that there is nothing for ordinary people in Pakistan in this budget. In fact, there has never been any relief for ordinary people in any budget in Pakistan’s history, except of course empty promises and useless rhetoric. So, why should I and millions of people like me bother to waste time listening to a bunch of financial mumbo jumbo?
Ironically, the tradition around the world is to cut taxes, and efforts are made to lower the burden on masses whenever governments introduce budgets. However, in Pakistan, it is the exact opposite because Pakistan is perhaps the only country where government tries to squeeze more out of the citizens every year by both imposing direct new taxes and by taxing industries that are promptly going to pass the new taxes to the consumer, period.
Even more ironical is the fact that the country is drowning in debt, and inflation, but the government refuses to acknowledge that the situation is really bad. But, the government keeps on expanding useless programs, and instead of trimming or cutting expenditure across the board, increase has been announced virtually across the board. And to cover this increase in expenditure, new and hefty taxes, some directly and some disguised under smart titles and confusing names has been introduced.
It is important to remember that this not the only time when the government has relied on statistics and mumbo jumbo to distract those who play close attention to the budget. Also, it must be remembered that the government has absolutely no option except for borrowing from lenders who in return ask for draconian measures to cover the short fall, and to extract maximum out of those who can’t hide their income. Too bad, majority of the country still doesn’t pay taxes and therefore, the government relies entirely on a very small base of taxpayers.
Another aspect annoying as hell is the luxurious life style of those who claim to be public servants. And, amazingly, there is no cut in housing allowances, petrol allowances, travel announces, domestic help (drivers, cooks, gardeners, body guards) office allowances, salaries or other perks for those who were elected to help the ordinary citizens live a better life. One look at the aristocratic lifestyle of Pakistan’s elected and unelected rulers is enough to make people give up hope about Pakistan’s future, forever.
Yes, the overall financial and economical situation in the country is nauseating.