Re: Budget 2013
There was a symbolic gesture required. Cant believe I am saying that but PPP managed to do that almsot every year. If there was no money to do it then why make tall claims in manifestos? counter argument would be that they had no money but why fool people to get votes? Did they not know that ‘khazana khaali hai’?
PMLN has won with a huge mandate. They have had votes from all corners of society. Why not increase tax base? They made such tall claims of tax reforms and what not? Why could they not touch the untouchables ‘realtors, agricultures and businessmen’? They will NOT be affected with this budget. Yes they have conveniently made agriculture a provincial subject. Majority of our parliamentarians do not have to pay taxes because their income rely on untaxable incomes. And PMLN has ensured that it stayed the same. No wonder traders and business community love PMLN because they are the least affected from this budget. KSE increased by few hundreds points yesterday because our elite celebrated. Better enforcement will happen only with salaried individuals. No wonder our tax to gdp ratio stays at the lowest and I expect that to continue.
Now what was the need to increase RGST? when all over the world it is being reduced, we are increasing it. Yes major tax collection spree is required but why not increase the tax base? THIS was the time to do so. They have the mandate, numbers, but unfortunately NO political will to do so. 
Yep. This is one great step. But why were there 120 billions rupees allocated for ‘special initiatives’? Isn’t it another name for discretionary funds? I expect more gimmickry from PMLN when going gets tough as time passes.
Excuse me brother if I dont share your ‘excellent budget’ sentiments. This is a much feared oft-repeated elitist budget that has spared our ‘poor’ elite from taxes and hampered our progress. Yes, tightening of belts was needed and thats what happened but not JUST to salaried class and the genuine poor class. This is 2013 & not 1997. MNS & Ishaq dar better come out and smell that same tax regime is NOT gonna work for Roshan Pakistan. You know even poor would have not complained this much if PMLN had the guts to increase either tax net or more direct taxes spread all across the population.