Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Direct taxation restricts inflation
It is normal practice in any democratic country to raise required revenues through direct taxation on income earned through salaries, profit earned from any commercial trade or business etc. Representative governments who are accountable to the people, resort to indirect taxation only after they have exhausted all sources on which direct taxation can be levied, and state still needs more revenues to meet socio-economic development projects.
Unfortunately, this PTI-led coalition government, like its predecessors (PPP, PMLN, Musharraf junta etc) are either hostage to special interest groups or have a conflict of interest, otherwise why should they give tax reliefs and subsidies to real estate land developers, import of expensive limousines, tobacco industry and cartels like fertilizer, sugar, energy sector etc. As a rule, subsidies should only be given on basic food items, education, health, public transportation, senior citizens, deprived sections and other welfare projects like promoting vocational training to those who cannot afford education, first owners of low-cost housing as given in Malaysia etc.
Countries all over the world levy heavy taxation on tobacco products, which are scientifically proven to cause cancer, cardiac deceases, lung issues etc., to fund the consequential high cost of health provision. The advantage of raising the cost of tobacco products astronomically will restrict and prevent the rise in addiction amongst our youths and use marijuana and other drugs which are associated with tobacco smoking.
Levying sales tax on import of essential hospital items and items needed for handicapped, while giving tax exemptions to expensive electric SUV and limousines is a contradiction. How can the state justify tax exemptions to profitable fertilizer cartels, when it is not available to farmers for wheat crop? The State must reset its priorities to provide welfare to citizens, instead of just the paid elite.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Nasty
Twitter trends
Every passing day, I feel sick to my stomach seeing the utmost nasty trends on Twitter. The language used in those trends does not reflect a civilised society or a nation. Being a student of journalism, I often visit Twitter to get updated from national and international news and current affairs, and, every time I visit there, to my appal, I come across such filthy trends with a nasty dehumanizing language used against opposite camps.
This is getting worse and worse day by day. I deeply lament the fact that we, as a nation, continue to stoop to the lowest level of immorality when we have to criticise an opposing camp. Most targeted are the female journalists which debunks our misogynistic society. Dissent and varied opinions are core features of a critical thinking society that flourishes democracy. But instead of a constructive criticism, we resort to filthiest mudslinging, character assassination, false aspersion, smear campaigns to tarnish honour and dehumanise others.
Accordingly to my viewpoint, currently, our foremost issue is not of economy or poverty but lack of morality and civilised behaviour. If we want to be known as among the civilised societies of the world we need to work on our personal character lest we are known as one of the most contemptible societies in human history.
ZAHID ALI NAGRI
Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan
Brain-drain
Despite being rich in talent and having an immense intellect pool, Pakistan is lagging in many fields owing to brain drain. The country’s disregard for the intellectual individuals and talents is exemplified by the paucity of opportunities on meritocracy.
The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment highlighted that over 10 million talented, intellectuals and skilled individuals flew abroad owing to the dearth of employment opportunities in the country, making Pakistan lose its asset.
The rising trend of brain drain needs to be stopped as succinct as possible and the government needs to provide the proper means and measures to the intellectual pool to stop soaring brain drain sans any further delay.
NISAR AHMED
Kandhkot
Not another sacrificial lamb
This refers to the article ‘Realism is back’ by Dr. Shoaib Baloch – March 1) As for his lament over the total failure of diplomacy, extended deterrence, collective security, UN, international law, liberal hegemony, liberal internationalism and institutionalism, I will remind him of the quote “The time we are living is a bad one; almost just as bad as it always has been.” Obviously, one’s disappointment is proportionate to his expectation level.
Therefore, the conduct of neither Russia, nor that of its rival group the United States and its Western allies was unpredictable. It is basically a repeat of the ugly attempt by the US and its allies to continue dominating the world by trying to eliminate any competitor which stands up to challenge their international dominance.
In fact , the US had done it before using and abusing Afghanistan, by making suspicious moves to create an impression that it wanted to establish military bases there, thus luring the Soviet Union to ‘pre-empt’ the move, and the rest is history.
Now, with its bitter experience, Russia would, of course, not tolerate the NATO gang knocking at its door. In fact, Putin had asked the NATO to firmly commit that it will not make Ukraine its member. However, the US and its allies did not do so.
Moreover, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, a former actor and comedian, with the pampering and offer of generous help from the US and its European allies, plus invitation to become a NATO member, felt greatly elated and saw in it a golden opportunity to become a world-class leader by challenging Russia.
However, the absence of expected level of help and reverses on the battle-field have made the Ukranian President realize the gravity of the situation, thus persuading him to start negotiations with Russia. Let us hope good sense prevails and unnecessary bloodshed and suffering avoided
S R H HASHMI
Karachi
