Archive for the ‘World Bank Affairs’ Category

A stern warning to Nawaz Sharif published by Pak Observer in 2013

A stern warning to PM in 2013..!

Mr. PM arrest economic downslide..!

Pakistan Observer 9 Sep 2013
Syed Nayyaruddin Ahmad Email:
nayyar51@hotmail.com

THERE is a strong feeling that government is mortgaging the future of the country with the foreign donor agencies, by taking so much huge amount of loans (that too just for the repayment of the old loans), which this poor country may never be able to repay. This means that in every terms, we have gone bankrupt; and can’t even breathe, without the debt life line.
The gravity of the loan repayment situation can be gauged that during the FY 2102-13 Pakistan spent about 1 trillion PKR out of the FBR’s revenue earnings of less than 2 trillion PKR. Today, Pakistan is not under huge debt, rather, it is completely buried under the debt. The government has borrowed Rs.611 billion in just 40 days from the state bank of Pakistan, as against Rs.507 billion in full year (2012-13). In other words, the PMLN’s government has borrowed Rs.15.3 billion per day in 40 days, as against Rs.1.4 billion per day by the previous regime in 2012-13.
The 6% depreciation of Rupee vs the USD in the last 80 days, has cost Pakistan Rs.3.5 billion per day and has added additional Rs.276 billion in public debt in the last 80 days. (Figures quoted in this para and its preceding para were reported by Dr. Ashfaque H Khan, in his article, titled “A nation’s debt” published by in a national English dated 27 August, 2013).
H’able Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab, you always spoke against the debt burden through out the last 5 years tenure of the PPP. However, now your government has broken the entire 365 days record of the PPP government in just first 40 days, as per the details explained above. As such, kindly take it as very serious matter (of the economic life and death of Pakistan) because, all the world knows that the USSR, the strongest nuclear power of the world, was broken, not because of any enemy action, but by its own economic melt down.
Sir, unfortunately, all financial indicators points that your era is moving the country fast towards economic melt down. You may remember, I requested you to to take the personal charge of the affairs of the country, lest the situation may not come to a pass, where even you may not become helpless, to stem the rot.
In this regard, after declaring an economic emergency, the following economy and austerity measures are suggested for adoption, to at least put up an impression to the masses, that government is seriously contemplating to improve the economic resurgence of Pakistan. And also to dispel the impression that your economic policy is not to just blindly run the country on domestic and foreign loans and to merely pass your tenure of the government, without bothering about the repercussions of the future inability of the country, to pay back these loans.
Immediate 50% reduction of all the pay and perks of the entire government servants/employees from president to the peon. This should include all government employees, employees of the government semigovernment/autonomous corporations/ banks, PIA, Railways, Steel Mills etc. However, upon improvement of the economic situation the unpaid 50% salary amount should be gradually given back to the employees.
Moreover, for all these government employees, there should be a 50% rebate in payment of all utility bills and educational fees of their children during this period of economic emergency. 50% expenditure reduction in the entire PSDP. Absolute ban on the foreign trips of the government officials. All international meetings to be attended by the respective envoy’s of Pakistan, in that country.Absolute ban on the foreign medical treatment on government expenditure, right from the top to the bottom.
Cessation of the entire subsidy on the food items available to the Senators, MNA’s and MPA’s at the Parliament’s cafeteria, where Roti is served almost free; and even in Peshawar, it is selling at Rs.15/- for the general Public. Complete ban (in real sense) on the official entertainments at all levels.
NAB may be directed to take very immediate steps (absolutely ruthlessly) to recover (from within and outside Pakistan) all the looted national money, on a fast track basis. Immediate nationalisation (without giving any time to the ultra rich people to move their precious jewellery out of Pakistan) of the Gold, diamonds, gems and precious metal in Pakistan.
Reduce taxation rate of all types of taxes, GST, levies, excise etc. to a maximum of 10%. During the currency of this economic emergency period, there should be a ban on increase in the prices and rates of POL, utilities and all essential items.

A Pakistan for the masses not masters..!

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Basically amnesty schemes are for the rich of the rich by the rich.

These schemes are offered to legalise mega economic crimes of the ultra-rich, in the poor countries falling in the category of Banana Republic: and are never offered, in the developed nations, where the rule of law is supreme.

In fact, in the poor countries the first thing the big wigs do is to get the amnesty scheme immediately legalised from the parliament and the judiciary.

In this regard, writing off of mega bank loans of the rich and mighty defaulters is also an amnesty for the ultra-rich persons of the society.

Never ever, huge educational fees, fat medical expenses and high utility bills (which includes payment by the poor of the share of theft charges of the utility facilities by the rich and mighty) have been waived off for the poor, in Pakistan, by any government.

In typical Banana Republics the huge and sprawling residences and production units of the high and mighty, invariably indulge in thefts of utility facilities and taxes with issuance of SRO’s, the burden of which, is passed over into the bills of the poorest of the poor, even living in the ghettos: and to cover up their smart moves, a propaganda is unleashed that very few persons pay taxes in the country.

Further, the hitmen of the Banana Republic excellently use their brains to serve their masters and befool the masses, by ingenious ways of deception.

In this regard, the previous government of PMLn found two genius masters/ministers who reduced the amount of Pakistan’s government debt and poverty, respectively, with just a stroke of pen, by changing the definition of total government debt and arbitrarily amending the status of poor living below poverty line, by a Royal Decree that those earning less than one USD per day will only be considered poor in Pakistan of PMLN’s government, instead of the internationally accepted yardstick of two USD per day.

If we calculate the losses suffered by the country due to the issuance of SRO’s by the previous PMLN’s government, the nation will be surprised to know that it may open a Pandora’s box of biggest ever financial scam of the country.

Moreover, like devaluation of currency, the amnesty schemes, theft of utilities, issuance of SRO’s and loan waivers increases the number of poor persons living below the poverty base line: and similarly increases the number of persons legally living above the ultra rich category, who only pay 10% of the tax revenue compared with 17% share of the poorest 10% in Pakistan, just because indirect taxation is above 80% and direct taxation less than 20% in Pakistan.

The gist of the above analysis clearly explains that Pakistan must immediately get itself unleashed from the policies of the hitmen and develop a homegrown politico-socio-economic system specifically designed to serve the masses not the masters.

Best Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Pakistani Magna Carta – How to come out of Straitjacket?

(The above video is a must watch before reading this article)
Now our economic malaise has reached such a stage that business as usual, is going to jeopardise our statehood, not in years, but in months.

The degree of the sovereignty of a country, is directly proportional to the state of the economy of that nation.

 

However, even knowledgable people are not aware that the total debt (Internal + External)  according to the central bank rose to Rs22.2 trillion or $222 billion in 2016-17 compared to Rs14.8 trillion or $148 billion of 2013.

 

The latest figure of the TOTAL debt stands at Rs25 trillion or $250 billion repeat, Dollar 250 billion.

 

Link..https://tribune.com.pk/story/1544770/2-ticking-economic-bomb/%20%5D/

 

Pakistanis are justified in demanding from the  government to inform where this amount of $250 billion internal and external loans were spent, when, even the average entire national budget of the last ten years, was not more than worth $40 billion per year?

 

Just to have an idea of how much value can be derived from 250 billion USD given below is the cost comparisons of few projects in Pakistan and India:

 

Estimated/expected final cost of Orange Line Lahore Metro train (running distance just 27.1 KM’s) in 2018….2 billion USD (rough estimate).

 

Cost of Indian mission to Moon in 2008….Only 80 million USD

 

Cost of Indian mission to Mars in 2013….Only 73 million USD which had to travel about 8 billion KM’s.

 

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/loans, can keep us afloat, but won’t allow us to swim. Actually, in constant homegrown methods of growth and development, lies our salvation.

 

Now, the time has come to separate the growth and development in the sectors of education, health, eradication of poverty, environment protection, human development, conservation of water resources and security of Pakistan, from the politics, forever. Politics and these issues of life and death can not go together.

 

In this regard, we can not put cart before the horse, which means that economic emancipation of the teeming millions and Pakistan’s financial stability, should be the top most priority, over all other subjects including the democracy, which can wait after so much waste of time and resources.

 

Even democracy can never deliver without its foundations truly embedded, in rock solid and inevitable local bodies system.

 

It is just a false propaganda of the beneficiaries of the democracy (oligarchs) that if allowed continuity, democracy can work and deliver from the assemblies and senate, without genuinely and financially autonomous grass roots level, fully empowered local bodies system; and not the sham local bodies system, currently prevalent in every province of Pakistan, very reluctantly allowed by the politicians, albeit, on the repeated orders of the Supreme Court.

 

If Pakistan has to be governed and developed with the current system of few provinces of huge areas having large populations, then it immediately needs a revamped and fully empowered local bodies or COUNTY system; else, we will have to convert every division, into a province.

 

In the meantime, a referendum may also be held to decide should we switch towards the presidential system of government.

 

Further, the biggest reason in the collapse of our economy has been the higher than the highest level of corruption which has created an impression and culture, which ensures that the crime of corruption pays and is an acceptable norm of our society; plus the judicial system which has miserably failed to punish the big wigs who are caught on corruption or criminal charges of even day light murders, while providing such top level culprits so much facilities (even permission to travel abroad on humanitarian grounds) during trials; and facilities of house arrests and stay at five star hospitals (during the jail terms) that it motivates others, to always indulge in mega corruption and other criminal activities with impunity.

 

The level of mega corruption, in fact, puts Pakistan at the top of the most corrupt nation’s league in world, whose government level financial irregularities are almost double its size of the budget, as depicted from the news quoted below:

 

Quote.

 

“The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), Javaid Jahangir, has claimed that during the audit year 2017-18 auditors pointed out irregularities amounting to Rs8.276 trillion in the accounts of the federal government.

 

It may be mentioned that this figure is almost double the amount allocated for the fiscal year’s federal budget that is Rs4.75tr.”Unquote.

Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/1402111

 

We must re-vamp our judicial system to kill the notion that it always pays to indulge in big corruption in Pakistan.

 

Until and unless, the culture of our country which loudly announces that crime of corruption pays in Pakistan, is not changed with radical steps of zero tolerance and no leniency, in corruption court trials and jail sentences; and severe punishments like DEATH SENTENCES are awarded in the corruption crimes, we will remain a Banana Republic of the worst level. Under the circumstances, if certain basic changes in our political and judicial systems are not incorporated in our constitution, no dictator or even best of the best civilian leadership or political party, with all the good intentions, can deliver and succeed in pulling out this country, from the abyss.

 

It has been a good political tactics in the past by all and sundry, particularly by those at the helm of the affairs, to divert the attention of the masses, from the real issues, by mud slinging on politicians, civil and military servants, judges etc.

 

However, now we must put a full stop to this non-sense, which has wasted the entire life of Pakistan.

 

Nothing can match the benefits of the collective wisdom. Since, its a matter of impending economic collapse of the country, impetus for which is being provided by the four devaluations of the currency in the last five months, which obviously is a sure recipe of disaster, for which almost all of us are responsible in one way or the other: almost no one is exempt from the charge of hurting the cause of the country. It looks that a certain gang of oligarchs within ourselves is forcing Pakistan (by design) to irreversible bankruptcy disaster, as if, to punish Pakistan, for its some unpardonable crime.

 

As such, we should decide to look forward and forgive and forget each other’s sins of the past, and take each and every segment and political/social force of the society in confidence, for a very transparent scheme of our future development.

 

In this connection, Mr. Steve Maraboli has very appropriately said that  “Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You… Be Free… Share.”

 

Let us unitedly build a new economically strong and politically stable Pakistan, with our collective and prudent decisions; knowing very well that no political party, group or institution is so strong, to run this country, single handedly, for a sustainable period, without the help and cooperation of each other.

 

Our immediate task must be to stem the economic rot immediately and on EMERGENCY basis.

 

Government of Pakistan (GoP) must be duly warned that rapid devaluation of the PKR is no panacea for the economic stability and amnesty schemes are factually and cruelly legalising crimes of the 1% rich at the expense of the 99% poor Pakistanis.

Rather, devaluations and amnesty schemes are a sure recipe for disaster, which, as a direct side affect, is throwing back more and more Pakistani population, to below the poverty line. Our elite is absolutely hundred percent responsible for exploiting the power, authority and resources at their disposal to keep millions and millions of people below poverty line in Pakistan, thus, causing  deaths of the hapless poor, due to the malnutrition, disease, miseries and suicides due to economic hardships.
Those economic managers of the country, who think that our economic slide into the abyss, can be controlled with huge doses of devaluation, re-defining or re-phrasing the definition of the total public debt, changing the definition of poverty to people who live on 2$ per day income to 1$ per day income; launching of amnesty schemes or issuing SRO’s and by fudging the economic numbers: are behaving like a pigeon; which closes its eyes, on seeing a cat.
We have been writing in the past that it’s a big misnomer and deliberate disinformation that Pakistanis don’t pay taxes.
The fact is that all the 220 million Pakistanis pay taxes on each and every item of daily use including medicines.
The devil lies in the fact that above 80% indirect taxes and less than 20% direct taxation, is the major cause of our backwardness; and on two dollar per day income basis, is the main reason, of over 130 million population, living below the poverty line.
Moreover, 10% poorest pay 17% of the tax revenue to the government; and richest 10% pay only 10% of the revenue to the government.
Until and unless, these abnormalities of our economic system are corrected, it will be well neigh impossible, to take out major portion of our population (which numbers may well have now increased substantially over 130 million after the recent massive devaluations of PKR) from the below poverty line income segment of poor people, earning less than two dollars per day.
Massive devaluation of currency, launching of amnesty schemes, exorbitantly high direct taxations, rampant corruption in government departments, issuing SRO’s for benefitting the ultra rich and regularly increasing the POL prices and rates of utility bills are all anti-poor measures and thus, in a society where hundreds of kids are dying due to malnutrition, these acts must be classified as crime against humanity.
In this regard, the fastest way to reduce the poverty, is to ensure direct foreign investment into Pakistan, for which our foreign missions must be given specific urgent targets.
Other means includes:
– Immediate and urgent orders must be issued for observance of most strict austerity measures in all the civil and military departments of the government, which must include ban of foreign tours, foreign medical expenses, purchases of new cars and air conditioners, reduction in petrol limits to 50% and ban on all official entertainments of every type.

Moreover, in Pakistan, we can easily control our expenses, if the following statement is adopted as a motto/mission; and implemented as an official policy, and is also displayed in the offices of the civil and military bureaucracy, just below the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Sahab:

 

“Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.”

– Immediately replacing the entire existing economic team of the government, because they are the very people who have led Pakistan to a virtual bankruptcy, may be on the advice or pressures of foreign lending agencies.
– By bringing back the billions of dollars illegal foreign funds and stolen properties of Pakistanis, a la the Saudi Arabian Model.
– Recovery of illegally/approved under political pressure, all written off loans and bad debts, by imposing economic emergency laws, on fast track basis.
– Immediate launching of a scheme for payment of 3% PA profit (payable bi-annually) on Foreign Currency bank deposits in Pakistan (backed by the sovereign guarantee of the GoP) with a suitable, but attractive fixed period. This is a fool proof scheme, sans any risk, which can boost up our foreign reserves, in a very short time, on extremely cheap rates, as compared to the foreign loans and international bonds, which were sold by the previous government of PMLN, at even 8.25% interest rates (Pakistan will be repaying USD 910 million for USD 500 million Euro Bonds) for which the then PM Mian Nawaz Sharif was requested to hold an inquiry, to fix the responsibility of the culprit(s), who allowed the sale of Euro Bonds, on such a criminally high interest rates.
We must also realise that our personal safety and better future lies in accommodating and cooperating with each other, with the sole aim of building a STRONG Pakistan, under the slogan “Re-born Pakistan”.

In this regard, it is suggested that, we should AIM to bring Pakistan, to the level of Singapore of 2018, by the year 2040.

 

All politics and other considerations should be made subservient to this TARGET for 2040, even if we have to abolish weekly holidays for the next 20 years & reduce our daily sleeping time to 6 hours.

 

All stake holders, particularly, from the deprived sections of the society 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. But it must be remembered that no country or society has ever risen from ashes, without individual and collective sacrifices and discipline, for example Japan, China, Korea, Turkey and Malaysia. Basically these nations did not waste their time on feeding precious resources to top level democracy which automatically breeds oligarchy. [Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may be distinguished by nobilitywealthfamily tieseducation or corporatereligious or military control. Such states are often controlled by families who typically pass their influence from one generation to the next, but inheritance is not a necessary condition for the application of this term. Throughout history, oligarchies have often been tyrannical, relying on public obedience or oppression to exist. Aristotle pioneered the use of the term as a synonym for rule by the rich, for which another term commonly used today is plutocracy.

 

Link:- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligarchy ]. The achievement of these countries named above were not the outcome of democracy at the top level, but participation of the entire population in the nation building at the grass roots level. These nations have risen (from the conditions worse than Pakistan) by the honesty of purpose of their leadership, national discipline, engagement of all segments of society from the grass roots level and rule of law. We very recently watched the example of rule of law from South Korea, where their former lady president was brought to court handcuffed, for a trial on corruption charges.

 

As such, our nation must embark upon the following agenda, to resurrect our economy, without any further loss of time.

 

1. We should not expect any different results at the end of the five term after the general elections of 2018 from what we got after the GE-2013. Why; because for any different result there has to be some change. In fact, famous scientist Albert Einstein defined INSANITY as  doing the same thing over and over again, without any charge  and expecting different results.

 

Now since this country of 220 million population can not afford any further waste of time with so called democratic and dictatorship experiments, it will be prudent to look forward and immediately form a national government, which must be specifically government devoid of Hitmen of the lending agencies and controversial and dishonest people.

 

This homegrown government should consist of honest members from every segment of society for example labourers, peasants, teachers /professors, students, minorities, professionals from all possible fields and experts from the fields of media, law, military, diplomacy and civil administration.

 

2. This national government should 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 (WOT). Here don’t forget that the world powers have totally written off loans of many countries, for much less cooperation than Pakistan, which is practically fighting their war for more than a decade; and Pakistan still NOT charging a penny for overflights in the ongoing war of terror being  fought in Afghanistan.

 

3. 20% per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditures, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency.

 

4. 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 by giving a fillip to the badly suppressed economy, but will also discourage (to a very large extent) the tax evasion tendencies.

 

5. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax and tariff relief to industry, commerce, trade and agriculture. In fact, our strong point is agriculture and our focus should be to revolutionise it with most modern technologies of smart agriculture, which easily has the potential to create five million jobs in just five years.

 

6. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.

 

7. Outsource the FBR (which will alone increase income by Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 billion) and IMPOSE FLAT 10% tax on ALL & EVERY TYPE OF INCOME (as already mentioned at 3. above), without any exemption or SRO’s (except for the Police and security forces personnel whose salaries may be doubled with expected receipt of un-precedented increase in revenues, due to the above suggestions). This will not only reduce income tax burden on salaried class (with maximum 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 the armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our and our children’s safe TOMORROW.

 

8. The collective financial loss of State Enterprises is above Rs.500 billions per annum. All such entities should be immediately handed over to highly professional, dead honest, most patriotic successful Pakistani and or overseas businessmen, to head and bring in their own members of board of directors, to immediately turn around and successfully run these organisations, like world class companies, as a national cause service to the motherland, on war footings.

 

Few of the names which comes to mind of our world class successful Pakistani talented entrepreneurs, fully capable to serve the country in times of its dire need, are as below:

 

– Mr. Shahid Khan at USA, with net worth of $3.8 billion.

He owns Jacksonville Jaguars which worth $770 Million, plus a team in English Premier League ‘Fulham F.C’ which worth $300 Million and also He is the owner of Flex – N – Gate. He is the Richest person of Pakistan. He is presently living in USA. His main source of earnings are from the business of Auto parts manufacturing. He is counted as the 490th richest person in the world.

 

– Sir Anwar Pervaiz O.B.E

He is the founder and chairman of Bestway Group which is known as the country’s second largest cement producer and 16th largest cash and carry operator in UK, and also he is the Deputy Chairman of United Bank Limited Pakistan. He is one of the renowned investor. He is known as the great businessman in the country. His net worth is $1.5 Billion.

 

– Mr. Salim Ghauri is a renowned IT Entrepreneur recognised globally today. He is the founder & CEO of NetSol Technologies (1996).

 

– Mr. Razzaq Dawood is a highly reputed and successful industrialist and philanthropist. One of the founders of the famous LUMS university. He is founder of Descon.

 

– Mr. Sikandar Mustafa Khan is Chairman Millat group of companies and heads many organisations and forums. He is credited in the country for successfully heading buyout of a government run organisation which is a rare example in the industrial sector of the country in which employees of the same organisation purchased their company and created history of a terrific success story under the professional and administrative leadership of Mr. Sikandar M. Khan.

 

9. Pakistan’s Foreign policy is excellent in theory, perhaps the best in the world. However, this policy should be implemented in its true letter and spirit with core emphasis on PEACE particularly with its neighbours; and FP’s thrust and theme should be that any and every action must result in the economic benefit of the country.

 

10. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency) to bring each and every economic activity under document.

 

There is absolutely no doubt that by the dint of sheer hard work, sincerity & honesty, which is imbibed in the bones of the Pakistani work force, we can surely bring Pakistan, into the comity of 20 developed nations of the world, in the next 15-20 years.

 

The current leaders of Pakistan holding the destiny of this great nation, with highest manpower potential and material resources in the world, must remember the following two adages.

 

~ NOT FAILURE BUT SETTING LOW AIM IS A CRIME.

 

~ IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE IT IS PRECISELY THE UNTHINKABLE WHICH MUST BE THOUGHT.

Devaluation is a sure recipe of economic meltdown..!

Devaluation is a sure recipe of economic meltdown..!

Government of Pakistan (GoP) must be duly warned that rapid devaluation of the PKR is no panacea for the economic stability.

Rather, it is a sure recipe for disaster, which, as a direct side affect, is throwing back more and more Pakistani population, to below the poverty line.

Those economic managers of the country, who think that our economic slide into the abyss, can be controlled with more and more devaluation (in fact four times in the last five months, re-defining or re-phrasing the definition of the total public debt, changing the definition of poverty to people who live on 2$ per day income to 1$ per day income and by fudging the economic numbers: are behaving like a pigeon; which closes its eyes, on seeing a cat.

I have been writing in the past that it’s a misnomer and disinformation that Pakistanis don’t pay taxes.

The fact is that all the 220 million Pakistanis pay taxes.

The devil lies in the fact that above 80% indirect taxes and less than 20% direct taxation, is the major cause of our backwardness; and on two dollar per day income basis, is the main reason, of over 130 million population, living below the poverty line.

Moreover, 10% poorest pay 17% of the tax revenue to the government; and richest 10% pay only 10% of the revenue to the government.

Until and unless, these abnormalities of our economic system are corrected, it will be well neigh impossible, to take out major portion of our population (which numbers may well have now increased substantially over 130 million after the recent massive devaluations of PKR) from the below poverty line income segment of poor people, earning less than two dollars per day.

In this regard, the fastest way to reduce the poverty, is to ensure direct foreign investment into Pakistan, for which our foreign missions must be given specific targets.

Other means includes immediately replacing the entire existing economic team of the SBP and the MoF. And by bringing back the billions of dollars illegal foreign funds and properties of Pakistanis, a la the Saudi Arabian Model and recovery of illegally written off loans and bad debts, by imposing economic emergency laws, on fast track basis.

Last but not the least, immediate launching of a scheme for payment of 3% PA profit (payable bi-annually) on Foreign Currency bank deposits in Pakistan (backed by the sovereign guarantee of the GoP) with a suitable, but attractive fixed period. This is a fool proof scheme, sans any risk, which can boost up our foreign reserves, in a very short time, on extremely cheap rates, as compared to the foreign loans and international bonds, which were sold by the previous government of PMLN, at even 8.25% interest rates (Pakistan will be repaying USD 910 million for USD 500 million Euro Bonds) for which the ten PM Mian Nawaz Sharif was requested to hold an inquiry, to fix the responsibility of the culprit(s), who allowed the sale of Euro Bonds, on such a criminally high interest rates.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Sydney


Alarm bells ringing for the GoP – Red lines of the economic crisis have been crossed

Government of Pakistan (GoP) must be severely warned that rapid devaluation of the PKR is no panacea for the economic stability. Rather, it is a sure recipe for disaster, which, as a direct side affect, is throwing back more and more Pakistani population, to below the poverty line.

Those economic managers of the country, who think that our economic slide into the abyss, can be controlled with devaluation, re-defining the total public debt, changing the definition of poverty to people who live on 2$ per day income to 1$ per day income and by fudging the economic numbers, are behaving like a pigeon; which closes its eyes, on seeing a cat.

I have been writing in the past that it’s a misnomer and disinformation that Pakistanis don’t pay taxes.

The fact is that all the 220 million Pakistanis pay taxes.

The devil lies in the fact that above 80% indirect taxes and less than 20% direct taxation, is the major cause of our backwardness; and on two dollar per day income basis, is the main reason, of over 130 million population, living below the poverty line.

Moreover, 10% poorest pay 17% of the tax revenue to the government; and richest 10% pay only 10% of the revenue to the government.

Until and unless, these abnormalities of our economic system are corrected, it will be well neigh impossible, to take out major portion of our population (which numbers may well have now increased substantially over 130 million after the recent massive devaluation of PKR) from the below poverty line income segment of population, earning less than two dollars per day.

In this regard, the fastest way to reduce poverty, is to ensure direct foreign investment into Pakistan, for which our foreign missions must be given specific targets.

Other means includes immediate sacking of the entire existing economic team of the SBP and the MoF. And by bringing back the billions of dollars illegal foreign funds and properties of Pakistanis, a la the Saudi Arabian Model and recovery of illegally written off loans and bad debts, by imposing economic emergency laws, on fast track basis.

Last but not the least, immediate launching of a scheme for payment of 3% PA profit (payable bi-annually) on Foreign Currency bank deposits in Pakistan (backed by the sovereign guarantee of the GoP) with a suitable, but attractive fixed period. This is a fool proof scheme, sans any risk, which can boost up our foreign reserves, in very short time, on extremely cheap rates as compared to foreign loans and international bonds, which were sold by the previous government of PMLN, at even 8.25% rates, for which I had then requested to Mian Nawaz Sharif, to hold an inquiry, to fix the responsibility of the culprit(s), who allowed the sale of Euro Bonds, on such a criminally high interest rates.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Sydney

14 billion dollar question..!

My rejoinder to Mr. Khurram Hussain on his article titled “The 4.9 billion-dollar blunder” published by the daily “Dawn” dated 10 May, 2018.

Link:-https://www.dawn.com/news/1406785

Sir,
The writer says ”Go down to the bottom of the page, and the text next to the asterisk reads: “Estimated outflows based on remittance inflows and the bilateral remittance matrix”. There is your first clue that the figure is not a real remittance flow, but an estimate.”
Now if the above mentioned note is the case then:
1. Why zero figures shown for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012?
2. Why the breakup graph of Indian inward remittances in 2015 shows that out of the total amount of $70 billion (NOT AN IMAGINARY BUT A REAL FIGURE)  Pakistani remittances to India of $4.9 billion made Pakistan as the 5th largest contributor of the Indian remittances in 2015?
3. Why there is NO such figures of remittances of 3 million Afghan refugees sending (even assumed/estimated/imaginary figures as the article says it was in the case of Pakistan) remittances from Pakistan to Afghanistan?
Note this is currently the highest number of refugees (3 million) staying in any country of the world?

Well done NAB..!

If the Indian numbers of receiving $70 billion remittances (after including $4.9 billion remittances from Pakistan) in the year 2015 were not a lie, then either both the World Bank and State Bank of Pakistan are lying or it is a fact that a massive amount of $4.9 billion in 2015 and $4.7 billion in 2014 = $9.6 billion in two years moved from Pakistan to India purely on account of REMITTANCES and not on trade or any other account.

SHABASH to NAB for grabbing the bull by its horns.

@WorldBank must first say that #India was lying that it got $70 billion #remittances in 2015 which included $4.9 billion from #Pakistan only then WB’s denial can b accepted‬.

‪World Bank denies reports that #Nawaz #Sharif #laundered $4.9 billion to India http://toi.in/zSl4Cb/a24gj via @timesofindia

 

Pakistan remitted a total of $9.6 billion in 2014 & 2015 to India:

Pakistan 4th largest source of remittances to India..!

Link:- http://wap.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pakistan-4th-largest-source-of-remittances-to-india-115122400035_1.html

$4.7b remitted to India from Pakistan in 2014 & $4.9 billion in 2015 total = $9.6 billion: report

https:/www.google.com.pk/amp/s/www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/10/08/4-7b-remitted-to-india-from-pakistan-in-2014-alone-report/amp/

Pakistan’s enemy # 1 is neither India nor terrorism..!

Entire 22 crores rich and poor Pakistani population, pays indirect and direct taxes, without any exception, but people in authority have always been falsely spreading propaganda that only a handful Pakistanis pay taxes.
Maybe, since, only 1.2 million submit tax returns, there is a misconception that only these 1.2 million tax return filers pay taxes, out of 220 million population.
The issue is not that nobody pays taxes in Pakistan, but that due to the extremely lopsided ratio of indirect taxation vs the direct taxation, imposed over the country, its economic health, is virtually on a ventilator.
The ratio of direct taxes collection in Pakistan is very low at 11.21%, while Indirect-taxation generates 88.79% of the country’s revenues. [Link:- https://pakobserver.net/direct-tax-collection-ratio-low/ ]
Direct taxes with much higher rates, must be imposed on the 1-2 % super rich population of Pakistanis, who own all the luxuries of this world, in the four corners of the globe; which obviously, they have purchased from unlawful money, earned mostly from tax cheatings, under invoicing, misuse of SRO’s, corruption in international civil and military purchase contracts and mega construction contracts , selling of profitable roots of PIA, privatisations [remember one bank was purchased by a dollar billionaire with the deposits of the same bank and another bank was sold for Rs.1,000/- for which the auditors were paid Rs.2.5 crores to evaluate its worth as Rs.1000/- and then our State Bank gave the purchasing party a loan of ONLY Rs.20 billion, on world record interest rate of 0.01%] of national assets and bribes on sale and purchase permits, sale of Euro Bonds at world record interest rate [ just for media]  of 8.25% [but actually on a much higher rates than 8.25% if grant of exemptions of taxes are accounted for]  etc etc.
The fact is that these 1-2% rich and powerful looters and plunderers of Pakistani resources are solely responsible for mega corruption, which has now reached such a level that our black economy is almost double in size of our national budget of 2017-18 which is almost a little under Rs.5 trillion or $50 billion.
So, to conclude, if Pakistan has to stand up economically on its own feet, we don’t need accountability like the recent report of FIA, which says NO political person has invested in property business of Dubai,but like the  SELECTIVE and RUTHLESS accountability of only the super filthy rich persons, recently witnessed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Remember, Pakistan’s enemy # 1 is neither India nor terrorism, but it is the CORRUPTION, which now has turned into an economic terrorism, against Pakistan.
PAKISTAN PAINDABAD.

Hits of the #Pakistani #hitman..!

Few suggestions to improve economy on fast track after the great escape of the hitman..!

According to a news item reported today, our federal government is moving fast in the direction of further burdening Pakistan, with the borrowing of fresh loans.

Link:
Amid declining reserves, Pakistan set to start borrowing journey https://tribune.com.pk/story/1564936/2-amid-declining-reserves-pakistan-set-start-borrowing-journey/‬

As we are well aware that currently Pakistan’s total internal and external debt liability stands at a whopping number of $250 billion, which is almost equal to our GDP of under $300 billion. [ Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is often accused of manipulating figures to show reduced fiscal deficit as well as the total debt that according to the central bank rose to Rs22.2 trillion in 2016-17 compared to Rs14.8 trillion of 2013. The latest figure of the total debt stands at Rs25 trillion. link…https://tribune.com.pk/story/1544770/2-ticking-economic-bomb/ ]

Every sane person in Pakistan knew well in advance that Mr. Ishaq Dar will ultimately sink the country economically; and leave it after recklessly borrowing loans, with interest rates as high as 8.25%, which till date, stands as a world record, for highest interest rate.

The solution for Pakistan’s economic malaise can not and never be found in getting loans to repay the loans and to build false foreign exchange reserves with loans.

The cardinal rule to build a sustainable economy is to live within the means; for which austerity is the secret of success.

In Pakistan, we can easily control our expenses, if the following statement is adopted as a motto/mission; and implemented as an official policy, and is also displayed in the offices of the civil and military bureaucracy, just below the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Sahab:

“Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.”

Moreover, the following austerity measures may be adopted on emergency basis till our budget deficit is overcome and total government debt is repaid:

1. No officially paid foreign treatment for any government official or public representative be allowed without exception.

2. No government official or public representative be allowed air travel (domestic & foreign) in business/first class, on official expense.

3. No foreign tours for government officials and public representatives on official expense, without the permission/clearance of the chairman NAB. In this regard, for the foreign visits of President, Prime Minister and CM’s, no more than two persons shall accompany them on official expense.

4. All public sector organisations/corporations/
companies and sports organisations falling under the purview of the federal and provincial governments of Pakistan, must be headed by a private sector person, who should be suitably qualified, experienced and duly recommended by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry/PEC/PMDC and other such relevant apex bodies. Moreover, all such organisations must be bound to send their internal, external and special audit reports to the Chairman NAB on regular basis.

5. Immediate issuance of orders for 50% reduction in protocol expenses (specially the motorcade) of all VVIP and other government and public servants and representatives.

6. No subsidised food and other items be allowed to be served, in the canteens/restaurants/kitchens of the President/PM houses/offices, Senate, National and Provincial assemblies.

7. Complete bar/ban on any development allocation to the parliamentarians.

8. Total ban on announcements of funds/packages for development schemes by the President/PM, CM’s and anyone for any area, community, scheme, organisation, body or NGO. All such decisions should be mentioned in an organised manner in the annual budget.

9. No announcements by any government functionary of rewards for players/board employees of sports board/body/Federation etc from the national exchequer, as was recently done in July last, to the cricket players and employees of the PCB, after the victory in the Champions Trophy, when besides players, board employees were also given crores of Rupees from the national exchequer of the country, which is obtaining loans to repay its debt.

10. Strict moratorium on purchase of news cars/vehicles by any government department or organisation, before 10 years use of the old car.

11. Complete ban on official entertainment (Breakfast, Hi-Tea, Lunch or dinner) except one dish serving for any local guests and two dishes for foreign guests.

12. No payment (in any official legal case of government or its allied departments/organisations) to any lawyer on government expense over Rs.1 million. Beyond this amount payment approval must be obtained from the chairman NAB.

13. Only one premises should be given the status of President House, Prime Minister House, Governor House and the Chief Minister House.

Besides the above austerity measures, the following steps are also suggested to rejig the national economy on a fast track mode.

1. Request to all foreign donors for a 10 years moratorium, on all debt repayments by Pakistan, which is a frontline state of the world’s war on terror (WOT). Here, don’t forget that the world powers have totally written off loans of many countries, for much less cooperation than Pakistan, which is practically fighting their war, for more than a decade and a half.
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.
The size of our undocumented economy is almost equal to the yearly budget of Pakistan.
The best way to minimise black money is not the launching of amnesty schemes, because the black money keeps flourishing after taking advantage of such facilities. If we really want to deal with the menace of undocumented economy on a permanent basis, the ideal way is to either eliminate taxes or reduce the rates of taxes to a minimum level i.e., not more than 10%. This low level of tax rate will not only spur an economic boom, but will also automatically encourage people towards paying the taxes; rather than giving bribes to the government officials to save higher payments of taxes.
4. Impart training on war footings, of various modern skills to the country’s huge unskilled manpower, for increasing the industrial and agricultural productivity, competitiveness, value addition & exports.
5. Special support and incentives for developing world class facilities for enhancing income from tourism sector, which should encompass religious, medical, educational, hunting, entertainment and traditional tourism, specially keeping in view how rapidly Dubai has become a world tourist destination, by juxtaposing technology with innovative ideas. In technology and innovation Pakistan will have to be one step ahead of Dubai and Singapore.
6. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis, which should even attract foreigners to park their money in Pakistan.
7. Outsource FBR functions (which will alone increase income by Rs.1000 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 revenues). This will not only reduce income tax burden on salaried class (with max. tax rate of 10%. Here don’t forget consultants are already paying 10% tax), but will also result in so much increase in revenues, to the extent that government will not require any tax fresh imposition, in the budget. Plus, the government will be able to give tax free salaries to all the armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our and our children’s safe TOMORROW.
8. Pakistan’s Foreign policy is excellent in theory, perhaps the best in the world. However, this policy should be implemented in its true letter and spirit, with core emphasis on PEACE particularly with its neighbours; and Foreign Policy thrust and motto of all our diplomats should be that any and every action in their embassy, must result in the economic benefit of the country. Foreign missions exceeding their allocated targets of investments and remittances should be lavishly rewarded with monetary benefits.
9. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency) to bring each and every economic activity under document. In China even road side vendors issues receipts for sales of minor items.
10. To attract huge world wide foreign exchange deposits from expatriate Pakistanis and foreigners, allow profit rate of 3% PA to be paid on half yearly basis, on Dollar and other specified foreign currency bank accounts in Pakistan. We should not forget that recently Pakistan borrowed at 3% from the IMF and sold Eurobonds at 8.25%.

Best Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

#Pakistan should stop repayment of #Odious #IMF Loans ..!

If anyone thinks that Pakistan’s economic turnaround can be achieved with the loans and policies of the World Bank, the IMF plus its current Economy Czars, then probably, he was not aware of the fact these agencies and people have only one solution in their minds which consists of three components of Loan + Tax + Amnesty Schemes.

Now giving loans to repay the loan is no favour to any country, which is badly traumatised in every way by continuously fighting War on Terror (WOT), since the year 2001. These loan giving agencies, if they really wanted to help a war ravaged country, which was fighting the WOT as a front line state of the world, should have given special moratorium for a decade, for Pakistan, in payment of their loan instalments. But, as typical Economic Hit Agencies, further trapped a hapless nation, deeper into their debts.

To further add to the economic problems of the country the economic Czars of Pakistan kept on increasing the inflation by enhancing tax rates and imposing new taxes with every conceivable scheme in their minds These merciless Czars further devised money whitening schemes to make the rich criminals who built their fortunes by evading taxes, look innocent in the eyes of the law.

Now our economic malaise has reached such a stage that business as usual, is going to jeopardise our statehood, not in years, but in months.

The degree of the sovereignty of a country, is directly proportional to the state of the economy of that nation. Actually, in constant growth & development lies our salvation. Moreover, we Pakistanis must know, that without any doubt, the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet. Foreign expensive loans may keep us afloat, but will never allow us to swim and reach the shores of economic stability. To fresh seek loans to repay the old loans is a sure sign of disaster for any economy. Since the World and IMF knew that their fresh loans to repay old loans will further sink Pakistan economically and these loans were given with deliberate ill intentions, Pakistan must stop repayment of these loans on the very strong plea of being ODIOUS loans.

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

It has been a good political tactics in the past by all and sundry, particularly by those at the helm of the affairs, to divert the attention of the masses, from the real issues, by mud slinging on politicians, civil and military servants, judges etc. etc. However, now we must put a full stop to this non-sense, which has wasted the entire life of Pakistan.

Since, its a matter of impending economic collapse of the country, for which all of us are responsible and one way or the other, almost no one is exempt from the charge of hurting the cause of the country; we should decide to look forward and forgive and forget each others sins of the past, and take each and every segment and political force of the society in confidence, for a very transparent scheme of our future development. In this connection, Mr. Steve Maraboli has very appropriately said that “Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn’t what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You… Be Free… Share.”

Nothing can match the benefits of the collective wisdom. Let us build a new economically strong and politically stable Pakistan, by our collective wise decisions; knowing very well that no political party, group or institution is so strong, to run this country single handedly, for a sustainable period, without the help and cooperation of each other. We must also realise that our personal safety and better future lies in accommodating and cooperating with each other, with the sole aim of building a STRONG Pakistan, under the slogan “Re-born Pakistan”.

In this regard, it is suggested that, we should AIM to bring Pakistan by the year 2035, to the level at which Singapore was in the year 2010 (where country was developed first and politics allowed subsequently).

All politics & other considerations should be made subservient to this TARGET for 2035, even if we have to abolish weekly holidays for the next 20 years & reduce our daily sleeping time to 6 hours.

All the stake holders, particularly, from the deprived sections of the society 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 (WOT). Here don’t forget that the world powers have totally written off loans of many countries, for much less cooperation than Pakistan, which is practically fighting their war for more than a decade.

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. All government servants starting from the President, PM, Judges, military and civil personnel using official cars must use their vehicles for 10 years, before replacing it with new model.

4. 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.

The size of our undocumented economy is almost equal to the yearly budget of Pakistan.

The best way to minimise black money is not the launching of amnesty schemes, because the black money keeps flourishing after taking advantage of such facilities. If we really want to deal with the menace of undocumented economy on a permanent, the best way is to either eliminate taxes or reduce the rates of taxes to a minimum level i.e., not more than 10%. This low level of tax rate will also automatically encourage people towards paying taxes, rather than paying to the government officials as a bribe, to save them from bigger payments of taxes.

5. Increase in industrial and non-industrial productivity, competitiveness, value addition & exports with the introduction of latest technologies for industry, commerce, agriculture, service and trade sectors.

6. Special support and incentives for developing world facilities for enhancing income from tourism sector, which should encompass religious, medical, educational, hunting and traditional tourism, specially keeping in view how rapidly Dubai has become a world tourist destination by juxtaposing technology with innovative ideas.

7. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis which should even attract foreigners to park their money in Pakistan.

8. Abolish FBR (which will alone increase income by Rs.500 billion) & IMPOSE FLAT 10% tax (already being applied on dividend payments etc) 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%. Here don’t forget consultants are already paying 10% tax) 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 the armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our and our children’s safe TOMORROW.

9. Pakistan’s Foreign policy is excellent in theory, perhaps the best in the world. However, this policy should be implemented in its true letter and spirit with core emphasis on PEACE particularly with its neighbours; and Foreign Policy thrust and motto of all our diplomats should be that any and every action in their embassy, must result in the economic benefit of the country.

10. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency specifically for austerity at every level) to bring each and every economic activity under document and start paying 10% tax.

11. To attract huge world wide foreign exchange deposits from expatriate Pakistanis and foreigners, allow profit rate of 3% PA, on Dollar and other specified foreign currency bank accounts in Pakistan. We should not forget that recently Pakistan borrowed at 3% from the IMF and sold Eurobonds at 8.25%.

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

The leaders of Pakistan holding the destiny of this great nation, with highest manpower potential and material resources in the world, must remember the following two adages.

a. NOT FAILURE BUT SETTING LOW AIM IS A CRIME.

b. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE IT IS PRECISELY THE UNTHINKABLE WHICH MUST BE THOUGHT.

PAKISTAN PAINDABAD

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