The main emphasis of Finance Bill 2019 is penalising those who have none or below taxable income by asking them to pay double the withholding tax rate and get provisional assessment orders. This is not a fair treatment as many have no taxable income or making investment from remittances on behalf of their relatives living abroad. There may be many non-working housewives buying properties from funds received by way of inheritance or gifts from spouse. It shows lethargy on the part of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as they could have utilised the data of banks, power distribution companies, PTCL and mobile companies that collect advance taxes on behalf of the State -- they are fully computerised. By using their database, FBR could have easily determined fair tax base and not penalised everybody. Identifying all such persons having taxable income but not filing tax returns is not a difficult task but FBR wants to terrorise even those having no income, income below taxable limit or exempt income.

As promised, no reform agenda has been unveiled for the gigantic government apparatus -- epitome of inefficiency and corruption. 10 percent reduction in salary of ministers is just peanuts. The real reform would have been reducing the size of the cabinet to half to save billions. No move to monetise the huge perks and perquisites of public office holders, judges, high-ranking civil-military officials to save billions. The only emphasis in the budget is on more oppressive taxes to stifle growth and not cut down wasteful expenditure and luxuries of the elites -- the real beneficiaries of taxpayers’ money.