Upcoming budget: Pakistan may impose Rs1.3trn additional taxes

KARACHI: For further negotiation with our global lenders for extended fund facilities, the multilateral and bilateral donors may ask Pakistan to impose additional taxes of around Rs 1.3 trillion in upcoming budget which, if accepted, would take the FBR’s annual target to a whooping Rs 12.3 trillion, said Ateeq ur Rehman, economic & financial analyst.

For meeting the revenue target it has been discussed in different quarters that the procurement of additional taxes should be through salaried personnel and business individuals. The more tax burden on salaried class or individuals will be like another economic misfortune.

He added that the salaried class is a base and source of the economy for revenue generation thus contributing through potential income generation by direct and indirect taxes.

The salaried class is already buried under heavy taxation through already existing huge tax slabs on them or individuals which is unaffordable by them thus consequently bringing them down with heavy pressure of taxes by deduction at source. They are already facing higher inflation, inflated electric bills, huge petroleum prices all without any subsidy, compensation or return from the government, said Ateeq.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024