To control the spread, authorities must ensure regular insecticide spraying, improve healthcare access, and raise public awareness....
Dengue outbreak
Dear Editor,
Dengue fever is rapidly spreading across Pakistan. The outbreak is fuelled by increased mosquito populations due to widespread rains, lack of vaccines, and inadequate welfare systems.
To control the spread, authorities must ensure regular insecticide spraying, improve healthcare access, and raise public awareness. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure and launching community outreach programs are vital to saving lives. Immediate action is required to prevent further spread and protect citizens from dengue fever.
Sharatoon Fazal, Hoshab
Pakistan's new tax plan
Dear Editor,
The government, under pressure from a $7 billion IMF program, is focusing on punitive measures to increase tax collection. The FBR has introduced a plan to crack down on tax evaders by limiting their use of cash for major purchases such as property, cars, and financial instruments. The aim is to reduce underreporting of taxable income and compel non-filers to become part of the tax system. The finance minister has termed this effort a "war on cash," seeking to tap into the PKR 9.3 trillion in circulation. However, this approach largely sidesteps much-needed reforms in the tax system itself, which experts describe as overly complex, unfair, and discouraging to taxpayers.
In contrast, countries like India have successfully increased tax revenues by simplifying their tax systems, reducing rates, and offering incentives. India’s strategy of combining incentives with penalties has led to a significant rise in direct income tax collection. By broadening the tax base and introducing technology to streamline processes, India has managed to boost compliance while keeping the system fair and manageable. Pakistan’s heavy reliance on enforcement, without addressing the systemic issues, raises doubts among experts about the long-term effectiveness of this approach. A balanced strategy that includes both reforms and enforcement may be more successful in achieving sustainable tax compliance.
Talal Rafiq Rind, Turbat
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