"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy (or gal) who’ll decide where to go.”—Dr. Seusse
Under the social contract between the state and its citizens who are supposed to submit themselves to the command of laws enacted by elected representatives, if one starts jotting down the obligations of the state towards its citizens, the list would be quite long. People who love politics and are enthusiastic about exercising authority, have to be worthy and capable of handling the reins, otherwise this untamed beast called governance can, not only destroy the riders but play havoc with the fate of the entire nation. Among developing countries, Pakistan is a perfect example of this phenomenon.
Over the last seventy years, the general population has been conveniently placed on the backburner while a sizeable number claiming to be its sympathizers and saviors, have flourished like anything—their story is that from rags to riches. From WikiLeaks to Panama Papers and even later revelations, there are innumerable instances of noted persons and their cronies who, when in power prospered miraculously, while their electorate are struggling with a host of problems that are merely fundamental in nature. Day to day matters have gone so much out of control that denizens of this country dread the month when annual budget is announced. As if that is not enough, the entire year too has its own share of mini-budgets, meant mostly to increase miseries rather than provide relief. It would not be out of place to mention that the word ‘relief’ has either lost its meaning or it has disappeared from the policy frameworks of whosoever is running this country.
Pakistan is among those countries where inflation is at its peak and which has jabbed its deadly claws in the lower middle class, draining away the affectees’ right to survive with respect. Essential items are priced out of reach.
Each year before announcement of the country’s annual finance budget, proposals are sought from different quarters, pre-budget seminars are held, articles are written presenting doable propositions to overcome fiscal crises of the country, heated debates take place on the electronic media, all done with the objective of sensitizing policy makers and those at the helm of affairs to wake up to the distress call of the nation but in the end what happens? The same exercise is on, wherein a lot of statistics that are totally unfamiliar to the ordinary people, are disclosed by the finance minister amid ear-shattering rumpus created by the opposition benches. One has to patiently hear a long list of ‘praises’ of the government in power and an equally long list of shortcomings of the earlier before arriving at budgetary proposals, which in majority situations is predominantly, anti-people, pro-elite and in sync with the global lenders’ demands.
Pakistan is among those countries where inflation is at its peak and which has jabbed its deadly claws in the lower middle class, draining away the affectees’ right to survive with respect. Essential items are priced out of reach. Every member of the family is trying to earn a few rupees, yet unable to meet daily expenses. Although markets appear to be flooded with shoppers, but the underlying facts are gruesome in reality. While the dishonest tax evaders are having a ball of a time, the ones who are constitutionally not required to pay a single penny tax and unknown to them, are being ripped off to fund luxuries of their political and bureaucratic masters—terms that should replace the words ‘public servants’ and ‘public office holders.’
The dead British colonial masters must be beguiled by the way their legacy has taken shape after their departure from the subcontinent in 1947. Their relics have turned out more toxic than their worst expectations, with the War of Independence that began in 1857 continuing well into the twenty first century. Their likes are ruling the roost, flying the colonial flag real high, with their subjects groping in the dark in search of their identity, their ideology and sovereignty. Seventy years have passed, yet we are still trying to find a foothold to stabilize our economy that keeps dwindling in the hands of self-acclaimed gurus.
Wearing blinders, our fiscal policy makers have neither the correct statistics nor the vision to lay down a healthy system wherein the true philosophy of taxation could be implemented achieving the goals of equity and development.
Taxation is perhaps the most injured aspect of our financial policy despite the fact that it is actually the backbone of our economy. Unless it is healthy and strong, there is no way that we can hope to achieve our dreams of a prosperous Pakistan. No amount of irrational amendments or ill-advised amnesties or unworkable procedural changes can act as life-saving drips. Shad Lakhnavi’s poetry fits our tax system perfectly: Marz burhta gaya joon joon dawa ki (disease only worsened day by day with medication). Wearing blinders, our fiscal policy makers have neither the correct statistics nor the vision to lay down a healthy system wherein the true philosophy of taxation could be implemented achieving the goals of equity and development.
Common sense says that when procedure is simple, results would turn out better. In other words, there is a dire need to facilitate people to enable them to fulfill their duties as loyal citizens but when things become incomprehensible to the educated, how can one expect the less literate to abide by the word of law? When anyone tries to knock sense in the minds of those who carry the banner of leadership, the cunning among them become insecure about losing their powers and abilities to fleece the nation because of which we have as yet unable to tap our real potential in terms of broadening tax base and obtaining more revenue.
Consequently, violence, terrorism, absence of rule of law, flight of capital along with brain drain, an embarrassing international image, a dearth of basic necessities, an insecure future and helplessness have become the fate of our general public while our monarchical elite are enjoying an enviable lifestyle that defies all norms of economic justice that should actually be the real aims of socio-economic reforms of any country. Anyhow, much has been said about this imbalance but as nothing has been done so far, all one can say to this nation is that it should brace itself for the worse, expect no respite and consider itself on its own.