IN an amazingly welcome move, the previous government had reduced the tax burden on the salaried class and instilled policies to being non-tax filers into the tax net by making it more difficult for non-filers to purchase important staple commodities like vehicles and real estate. This was a breath of fresh air.

Honestly, many of us gave them respect for this brave move — long term, more people would have paid taxes, real estate prices would become, well, ‘real’ per say. This would take us closer to the model of a balanced society.

A correction in real estate prices was beginning to show, where honest hard working people were beginning to see a future where their children could also purchase a home. Prior to this law, dubious money was pouring into real estate and driving up prices beyond the reach of any salaried individual — genuine buyers versus ‘investors’ as the agents call it.

Similarly, the menace of people charging exorbitant ‘premium or own’ had plagued us for years. We also ask, where people, who are not tax-payers got Rs1.5 million and more to buy cars?

All we know is that these policies were game changers. We needed them. We saw the future shaping for the better. However, our hopes and dreams are about to be shattered. The only sensible act we have seen in decades is about to be undone. The new government plans to take it all away. It plans to reverse probably the most redeeming act of the previous government. Why we ask? What difference will it make to the exchequer at the end of the day? Our finance minister stated that the real estate reversal is to allow people abroad to buy land and invest in Pakistan…really we ask? Is this the only way to enable them to purchase land?

Why can’t a separate process be made for them whilst also maintaining the current policy? The world has evolved, we are the salaried class, we have rights and expectations. We will exercise those rights and have decided to unite and collaborate to challenge and fight the tax reversals and changes on legal ground.

A group of employees

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2018