Ratan:
dawn.com
Pakistani Patron checks in to a MOTEL owned and operated by Whoelse .. ?PATEL and gets a tax-free "DESI-RATE".
Bolded words are my comments
Pakistan strapped for cash. Tax Scofflaws show the finger
Tax culture
OF late, numerous CBR advertisements are appearing in the press coaxing people to pay
their taxes honestly and develop a tax culture. One of the latest with the above heading states,
What makes them excel?....What kind of a question is that? The US Govt throws the tax cheats in jail
"What makes these countries excel?", followed with the suggestion, "Let us make a
commitment to make 'Tax Culture' a part of our lives and bring our country at par with other
developed countries". I beg to differ with CBR's approach. Nobody pays taxes voluntarily.
Whilst watching BBC-TV news about two years ago, there was a documentary item on tax
evasion. Incidentally, it was India and not Pakistan that was being cited. On mentioning tax
evasion, the newscaster jokingly remarked, "I wish I could do that!"
Pakistani Patron checks in to a MOTEL owned and operated by whoelse.. a ?PATEL and gets a tax-free "DESI-RATE" If it is a Motel, it must be a Patel, so goes the saying.
Traveling on the US highway, I experienced that the roadside motels negotiate the room rate and do not issue any bills/ receipts. This is not to suggest that tax evasion in the US is as rampant as in Pakistan, but it does exist.
Hold the tax and pay the bribe
For achieving the revenue collections due, the CBR will need to cleanse its stables and
eliminate corruption from its departments, so that they can honestly net and enforce the
potential tax payers to pay their taxes, instead of coercing them to pay bribes. When people
know there is no other way but to pay taxes according to the law, the tax culture shall
automatically come into place.
RAFI AHMED
Karachi |
