Loud Thinking

Archive for the ‘Pakistan’ Category

Turkey Approves Indictment of Israeli Commanders : Why Can’t Pakistan Try NATO Commanders?

A report published today (29 May 2012) in a news paper, tells that a Turkish court has approved an indictment, seeking multiple (8000 to 18000) life sentences, for the four Israeli military commanders, over their alleged involvement in the 2010 killings of nine Turks on a Gaza- bound aid ship. The indictment accuses Israel’s former COGS Gabi Ashkenazi & three other retired senior military commanders, of involvement in the raid on the Turkish aid ship. Turkey had previously said, it would try to prosecute all Israelis responsible, for crimes committed during the raid.

Now, coming to NATO Salala check post attack, which resulted in the killing of 26 & not 24 Pakistani soldiers and dozens others were injured, why can’t Pakistan also indict NATO commander and other responsible soldiers, for a far more serious crime than the Israeli attack on Turkish aid flotilla? Here, we must also remember that Pakistan has deployed its forces on the Afghanistan’s border, on specific request of NATO, to help them in their created WOT. So, by all means, killing the helping forces of Pakistan, attracts and deserves double the punishment, than in normal circumstances.

However, we hope that the news attributed in media to the Prime Minister of Pakistan (elected by 180 million Pakistanis), that the “Killed soldiers now can’t be back alive with US apology” is absolutely false. In the mean time, we are also hoping that the same worthy PM of Pakistan, will soon issue a defamation notice to the concerned news agencies, who reported that our PM during his latest visit to UK, purchased only 3 coats worth Rs.80/- lacs. At the same time, we are still waiting for the denial of the news, about the last time purchase in UK, of items worth about Rs.8 crores by the honourable wife of our P.M.

So, long live the cherished democracy in Pakistan, which is looking after our leaders and their families in a befitting manner. Long live our chosen democratic leaders.

For the dying poor Pakistani civil and military mortals “Democracy is the best revenge”.

How to involve public in increasing tax collection.

Without going into big preamble, I would jot down my suggestions for evolving a national culture of tax payment.

It is most difficult part in any culture to motivate its people to pay tax voluntarily. However, when tax burden, its collection and utilization is made equitable and transparent, majority of people, if not all, would pay their taxes on time and in full.

Although my suggestions would not cover all aspects, yet, when implemented these would definitely prove a major step forward towards establishing a society which pay its tax and feel proud of their contribution.
 
1.       Recognize tax payers and their contribution by:
 
a)      All those who pay personal income tax > Rs. 2.5 million in any one year should be on the list of invitees at President’s  receptions. While all those who pay personal income tax > 1.0 million in any one year should be on the list of invitees at Governor’s receptions.
 
b)      All those who pay personal income tax above Rs. 1.0 million in a year should be honored by nation by allowing them to fly national flag on their motor vehicles and at their residences.
 
c)       Honorary magistrates should be appointed from the list of those who have paid personal income tax above Rs. 0.5 million.
 
d)      Contribution of all personal income tax payers should be recognized by giving them national awards on 23rd March. Suggestions for honor list are:

Personal income tax payment > 5.0 million for 3 years consecutive – Nishan-e Kidmat
Personal income tax payment > 2.5 million for 3 years consecutive – Hilal-e- Kidmat   
Personal income tax payment > 1.0 million for 3 years consecutive – Sitara-e-Kidmat
Personal income tax payment > 0.5 million for 3 years consecutive – Tamgha-e- Kidmat
 
e)      All those citizens paying personal income tax > 1.0 million in any one year should be allowed one free arms license up to a maximum of three licenses.
 
f)       All registered income tax payers should be allowed free registration at NADRA for NIC renewal/reissue.
 
g)      Driving License fee of all registered personal income tax payers should be abolished.
 
h)      All income tax payers should be allowed 25% rebate in car/motorcycle registration at the time of purchase, and 50% rebate for annual registration after they have paid income tax for three consecutive years.
 
i)        All those who have paid personal income tax above Rs. 100,000 should be allowed free of cost new passport or renewal.
 
j)        When appointing members of board of governors of banks/corporate bodies/Government institutions/University Syndicates, these should be selected from the list of citizens who pay personal annual income tax above Rs. 1.0 million.
 
k)      All those Pakistanis sending remittances from abroad should also be recognized for their contributions. Some suggestions are:
 
1)      All those who remit more than $10,000, should be allowed to recommend one of their family member in Pakistan for one free arm license.

2)      All those who remit more than $25,000 should be allowed free passport renewal.

3)      All those who remit $10,000 or more, should be given 2.5% bonus (or Rs.2.50 per dollar) as incentive to use official channels. This incentive should be paid as certificates of investment, cashable after five years. These certificates should carry 10% annual profit and be tradable on stock exchanges.

4)       All those who have remitted $1.0 million or more in a year, should be allowed to hoist national flag on their homes in Pakistan.
 
l)        Peace and Harmony committees should be formulated at police station level. Only income tax payers should be included as private members in these committees.
 
m)    It should be made mandatory for all public office holders and all government employees to get personal income tax registration, even if their total income is less than minimum level. 
 
n)      It should be mandatory for all business accounts to provide national tax number. No bank should be allowed to operate any business account without NTN. All new firms, should be required to provide NTN within 90 days, otherwise their account should be frozen automatically.
 
o)      All bank accounts where credit or debit balance exceeds Rs. 500,000 should automatically (same day) be reported to Income Tax department, unless banks already have NTN in their possession. This includes all type of investments, as well. In case of default, banks/investment institutes  should be heavily penalized.
 
p)      No property (plot/shop/flat/house/farm/agri land etc) should be registered without NTN of buyer.
 
q)      No motor vehicle should be registered without NTN of buyer.
 
r)       Retired persons with no income, continue to file their income tax returns for three years. This should be abolished. Need to file return after retirement should be finished. However, their NTN should be kept alive/valid throughout their life like NIC.
 
2.       Tax collection system should be reformed. Apart from detailed overhauling of FBR, following changes should be announced immediately:

a)      Chairman FBR should be an eminent person without any political affiliation and with experience of business management. He should be selected from private corporate sector. Appointment of Chairman should be for one term three years.

b)      FBR should be given constitutional autonomy in operational matters.

c)       An FBR Supervisory Board should be constituted whose remit should be to quarterly review FBR’s working and submission of quarterly reports to government of its findings and recommendations. This report should simultaneously be published on internet. This board should consist of Finance Secretaries of Pakistan and all provinces, Auditor General of Pakistan, two prominent chartered accountants (non-political) from private sector, Leaders of Opposition in Senate and National Assembly, Chairman Public Accounts Committee.

A Practical Solution for Saving Pakistan.

Somehow, I have a hunch feeling that if, at the time of partition, our leaders had decided that Eastern Pakistan and Western Pakistan, will be two autonomous units of a confederation of Pakistan, it would been a very fruitful and beneficial decision, both politically and economically, for the Crores of Muslim population, in this part of the world. 

Anyway, it is always easier to be wise after the event. But the decisions of history always teach us some lessons, for our correct guidance and right decision making for the future.

Now after sixty five years of age, Pakistan is a more fragmented society than our forefathers could have ever imagined. It looks that polarization is so intense that if, immediate corrective steps are not taken, that too, on a collective basis, God forbid, this great country may not be confined to the dust bin of history. There are signs for all to see, of the decadence of Pakistani society, in every sphere of life, be it the political, economical, educational, industrial, agricultural,  religious, law & order or any other segment worth naming. Hardly, any day passes without reports  of  suicides due to the economic hardships of the poor and hapless people.  The ever widening gap in the fractured society, is there to see for all and sundry. In fact, Pakistan is slowly inching towards economic bankruptcy and civil war. 

Now, in order to stem the rot, may be, we have one last chance, to unite the people and give them a prescription, to rise again and build the nation from the ashes.

All stake holders of Pakistan, must open their eyes immediately, as the nation is moving towards fragmentation and into an abyss, as well. 

Our survival is directly linked with the existence of the nation. Hence, for all Pakistanis, failure is NOT an option.

In this regard, I would like to suggest that, let us formulate a new social contract (specially designed for the 95% have nots) for the PEOPLE of Pakistan, which should take care of 95% down trodden, poor people who always pay 100% bills and taxes and never default on bank loans. Let us make a new Pakistan, which is redesigned to practically cater to needs of the exploited masses, in true sense.

In order to achieve the above objectives, it is proposed that the following steps may be initiated jointly, by ALL the organs of Pakistani government, opposition (in & out side the assemblies), bench and bar, civil & military bureaucracy, all students and trade unions and representatives of the civil societity.

1. Constitution may be amended to change the current faulty election system, which ensures the rule of minority over majority.

2. The election system should also be changed in a way, so that the whole country directly votes for a President or the P.M. However, before the voting, the candidates of all the political parties for this top post, must notify a list of their MPA’s, MNA’s and Senators, who will be automatically considered elected according to percentage of votes cast, in favour of the main candidate for the top post of the country. For example, if a candidate for the top post gets 35% votes, his team’s 35% (from top of the list) candidates will be deemed to have been elected, for all the assemblies and senate, as well. 

3. The decision for Pakistan’s charter of  development  (for building dams & mega projects, educational, industrial, infra structural & communications, religious, agricultural, science & technology, poverty eradication, health and defense policy ), for the next fifty years, should also be finalized, on which later on, no politics shall be allowed. In other words, the entire representatives of the nation should decide now, where they would like to see Pakistan, in each and every field of life, after 50 years.

4. In order to decentralize and empower maximum number of people, to enjoy the fruits of self rule, we should convert every division of Pakistan into a province. This will also work as a panacea for the eradication of linguistic and any other type of  frictions and doubts about hegemony of people, of certain big area, over the people of other smaller area. In fact, it will work wonders in the speedy development and unity of Pakistan and kill instantly, any secessionist or separatist activities (by marginalization and localization of such people having nefarious designs against Pakistan), currently prevailing  in some parts of the country.

Pakistan Paindabad.

                              Revenge of Supreme Court’s Punishment?

Since the Supreme Court of Pakistan punished our beloved P.M. (elected with a two third majority of the parliament) for a few seconds, he seems to have decided to go on a revenge policy, to punish the entire 180 million people of Pakistan, with virtual cessation of electricity supplies, in this extremely hot season.

And, after putting the general public on hot burner, the worthy convicted P.M. has himself left on a sojourn, to watch the Queen opening the session of the UK parliament.

I will request with my folded hands, to the honourable judges of the SC, to kindly condone the punishment of our beloved P.M.,  so that in return, the general public of Pakistan is released by the government from the perpetual sentence, of being condemned to the hell. Otherwise, the general public will remain hostage, with this highly honest & efficient government.

Moreover, it looks the government is hell bent to prove  the U.S. Senator correct, that Pakistan is a failed state, under this highly competent government of PPP.

A Proposal to Curb Increasing Acid Attacks.

It has been observed that acid attacks in Pakistan, mostly on women and occasionally on men, are being reported with increased frequency. Acid has turned into a deadly weapon of mass destruction.

It is such an abhorring crime that any amount of criticism is not sufficient to condemn it properly.

As such, it is proposed that with immediate effect, government should ensure that sale of acid is strictly banned through out Pakistan. And any person violating this ban, should be liable for DEATH penalty under the act of terrorism, trial for which should be held under Anti-Terrorism Courts.

Everybody knows that PCB had been burning midnight oil, for the last few months, to successfully materialize the planned tour of BD cricket team to Pakistan. In this regard, the BCB chairman’s statement speaks for itself, that he was fully satisfied with the proposed security plan for BD team, after personally viewing all the security arrangements, for matches in Karachi and Lahore. Now to put blame of all this fiasco on PCB is not only unfair, but harsh, as well. 

let me take the cat out of the bag, to tell the whole world, the real story of this botched attempt, to revive the international cricket in Pakistan, as below.

Actually, Pakistan is not hurt by the cancellation of the visit of the BD cricket team. The matter of extreme grief and shock was that BD government and the cricket board, first created a hype and then reneged on their promise, as if, they wanted to punish Pakistan, for its crime of helping BD, get the Test status. Also, it was Pakistan not India, whose contribution made the BPL  such a successful event.

Nevertheless, Pakistan will emerge even a stronger team in the coming days, but very soon, BD will rue it’s decision, of cheating Pakistan in such an unbecoming manner. BD should have had the guts, in the first place to say no, rather than backing out at the eleventh hour. Compared to the BD government, even Indians are better, that they have the guts, to say no.

One thing is confirmed now, that BD is surely a paper tiger. There was no need for such an intrigue, in saying no for the tour. BD had been toeing the line of Indian lobby, without realizing that India always treated BD like minions. BD was never invited by India, for a cricket series, since they got Test status, that too, courtesy Pakistan. 

We know very well, majority of the BD people love Pakistan and wanted the tour to go ahead, but the people at the helm of the government in BD, are known stooges of another country and never leave any doubt with their uttering and acts against Pakistan, to prove to their masters, that they are worthy puppets. Another recent example is, when BD told EU, that they have objections to Pakistan getting tax free access to EU countries, for two years. We also knew at that time, from where BD was speaking on this issue.

Any way, we still wish good luck to BD and it’s great people, as they have been made a stooge of India, not by the choice of it’s people, but by the intrigues of it’s traitor rulers.

Come on the rulers of BD, enough is enough, stand up and behave like a sovereign nation and at least pretend, that BD is not another province of India.

For Pakistan, world will see very soon, teams stronger than BD will be visiting here, sooner than later.

Pakistan will emerge even a stronger team in the coming days, but very soon, BD will rue it’s decision, of cheating Pakistan in such an unbecoming manner. BD should have had the guts, in the first place to say no, rather than backing out at the eleventh hour. 

One thing is confirmed now, that  BD is surely a paper tiger. There was no need for such an intrigue, in saying no for the tour. BD had been toeing the line of Indian lobby, without realizing that India always treated BD like minions. BD has never been invited by India for a cricket series, since they got Test status, that too, courtesy Pakistan. 

Any way, we still wish good luck to BD, as they have become a stooge of India, by choice.

For Pakistan, world will see very soon, teams stronger than BD will be visiting here, sooner than later. 

The degree of the sovereignty of a country, is directly proportional to the state of economy of that nation. Actually, in constant growth & development lies our salvation. Secondly, we Pakistanis must know, that without any doubt, the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet.

Foreign aid, can keep us afloat, but won’t allow us to swim.

Now the time has come to separate the growth, development, education, eradication of poverty & security of Pakistan, from the politics, forever.

In this regard, it is suggested that, we should aim to bring Pakistan, to the level of Singapore of 2010, by the year 2030. All politics & other considerations should be made subservient to this target for 2030, even if we have to abolish weekly holidays for the next 20 years & reduce our daily sleeping time to 6 hours.

All stake holders in Pakistan must immediately come forward for deciding about the direction of the future of the nation.

Biggest factor in any victory is self-confidence. Anti-thesis of terrorism is education, coupled with economic emancipation.

As such, the nation must embark upon the following agenda, to resurrect our economy without any further loss of time.
 
1. Request to all foreign donors for a 5 years moratorium, on all debt repayments by Pakistan, which is a frontline state of the world’s war on terror.  
 
2. 20% per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditures, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency.
 
3.Maximum tax rate on each and every type of income in Pakistan should be fixed at 10%. This will not only bring huge revenues to the government but will also discourage the tax evasion tendencies.
 
4. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax relief  to industry, commerce & trade.
 
5. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.
 
6. Abolish FBR (which will alone increase income by Rs.500 billion) & impose flat 10% tax on all & every type of income (as already mentioned at 3. above), without any exemption (except for the security forces personnel, whose salaries may be doubled with expected receipt of un-precedented  increase in revenue, due to this formula). This will not only reduce income tax burden on salaried class (with max. tax rate of 10%) but will also result in so much increase in revenues, to the extent that government will not require any tax imposition  in the budget. Plus, the government will be able to give tax free salaries to all armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our safe tomorrow.
 
7. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency) to bring each and every economic activity under document.  

I am more than confident that by the dint of sheer hard work, sincerity & honesty, which is imbibed in the bones of Pakistani work force, we can surely bring Pakistan, into the comity of 20 developed nations of the world, in the next 15-20 years.

Freedom is meaningless without dignity, in fact, its worse than slavery.

Pakistan should announce a head money on Raymond Davis (because as per their promise with Pakistan, the US government failed to take legal action against RD) of double the amount of $10 million, notified by USA on Hafiz Saeed.

And if, Americans say this has been done on the 26 November killings of US citizens in Mumbai attack, OK, then Pakistan has also the right to demand trial at International Court of Justice, of those US troops and their commanding general, who killed and injured dozens of Pakistani soldiers on 26 Nov. 2011 attack at Salala post.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The process of justice must be a two way traffic.

We must remember no one can insult us without our permission or in other words we ourselves determine our level of insult. This is as simple, take it or leave it. Look what Iran did with US drone and what we did with the downed US helicopter at Abbotabad?

We Pakistanis are at a loss to understand, why ICC is treating Pakistan like a pariah and subjecting it to worst type of apartheid?

Firstly, ICC is ensuring that no foreign team tours Pakistan. Secondly, if at all any nation wants to tour Pakistan, ICC ensures that the tour is sabotaged at any cost.

Moreover, ICC also takes no action against the Indian organizers of T20 world champions league, who refuses to invite Sialkot Stallions, the world record holder team (no state team in the world has won in their own country, 7 times, like the Sialkot Stallions), as if India and Pakistan are at war and don’t have any diplomatic, trade, cultural and sporting links.

We want an answer from ICC, is it not apartheid against Pakistan cricket, with the full connivance of ICC?

Since, the ICC understands only one language, I will advise the PCB to talk with ICC in the language they understand best and to serve a legal notice to ICC, with maximum damages claim for apartheid against Pakistan, for allowing an ICC approved international cricket tournament, with illegal exclusion of a member country champion and world record holder Sialkot Stallions T20 cricket team.