THIS refers to the repeated increase by the Federal Bureau of Revenue in valuation rates of properties in the last two years. The latest upward revision was done in July 2019.

The government seems interested in only maximising its take through the tax collection on sale and purchase of properties, and in documenting a small part of the underground economy.

In pursuing this objective the government is ignoring the interests of overseas Pakistanis’ purchasing these properties. As a result remittances from overseas Pakistanis under this head have declined sharply.

My daughter, an overseas Pakistani, invested her life savings in purchasing a plot in DHA City in Karachi. She has lost most of her investment as the value of her investment has fallen by less than half owing to the government’s measures.

The government should adopt measures to facilitate overseas Pakistanis not punish them for loyalty to the motherland.

Abdul Bari
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2019