PEW calls for mechanism to analyse impact of increased taxes

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Saturday demanded the establishment of a commission to analyse the impact of increased taxes on the masses and the fragile economy.

“The purpose of taxes is to provide resources to run the country, trigger economic and social development and ensure just distribution of wealth but our taxation system is not serving any of these purposes,” PEW President Dr Murtaza Mughal said in a statement. “The reason behind the dysfunctional taxation system is irrational tax targets, low morale, and political interference.”

He said the authorities were only concerned about their targets regardless of the toll those results were talking on the masses and the economy.

“Squeezing the masses and businesses beyond their capacity will never help increase revenue; rather it will reduce the collection,” he maintained.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that the tax system should be just, transparent and simple to attract people as millions of dollars have already been wasted in improving tax machinery.

Must Read