ONCE again employees are deprived of any relief in the tax in the 2017-2018 budget announced recently. The poor employees were greatly expecting that the rate of taxable income would be enhanced from Rs400,000 to at least Rs500,000, but the government was in no mood to give relief in this regard.
EOBI pensioners are also depressed as the rate of monthly pension was not increased despite various demands.
This is an industry-friendly budget, which did not give any relief to the common man.
The exemption threshold was increased to Rs400,000 from Rs350,000 in the 2012-13. Since then no relief has been given to the salaried class. It is a fact that this is the only sector where 100pc tax recovery is made as employers deduct the applicable tax at source. The FBR should have considered this case for relief of the salariat in view of the present inflation rate.
Every citizen (including the salariat) is paying allindirect taxthrough billsfor utilities, mobile cards, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, air tickets, etc. Hence the double tax burden.
