Mini budget seen as a blunder: PEW
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Mini budget, a confusing justification
Provisional revenue measures to weaken economy
Contradictory statement on mini budget confusing masses
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said the Rs 40 billion mini budget slapped by the government is unjustified which will increase poverty, smuggling and weaken economy.
Adhoc measures to increase revenue will never prove fruitful in the current scenario unless tax administration is reformed, it said.
Those who have always claimed to abolish SRO culture have introduced mini budget through an SRO bypassing Parliament which is against their claims, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
He said that government continue to earn hefty amount by imposing record taxes on petroleum products denying common man on any relief and now new measures have been imposed.
In a bid to earn more, officials have also slapped additional taxes on mobile phones and inflant milk considering them luxury items.
Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that a top government functionary cited annoyance of IMF over reduced tax collection as reason for mini budget, later he changed the statement and termed it a tool to check increasing imports and now the budget has been linked to war against terror and rehabilitation of IDPs which is amazing.
The government has claimed to stabilised economy, reduced inflation, increased forex reserves and boosted remittances but it has not helped sentiments as exports and investment continue to fall while private sector is not getting any loans.
The mini budget is a blunder which will fail to get results pushing government to introduce more such budgets.
