THE federal budget has imposed a tax worth Rs1 million per year on houses built over 1,000 square yards or more of land in Islamabad. This is in addition to the escalation in routine property tax. Whatif the same is occupied by a retired senior citizen, or a government pensioner, or the family of a former government pensioner, or the families of federal or provincial government servants who were allotted these houses in recognition of longservices andneversoldthe house, and do not have the kind of money that is required to pay the new tax? What if it is occupied by a widow? Where will the money come from? The money will surely not come by renting out the premises or part of it. This is because old houses have little hope, if any, of securing foreigners as tenants, and most enterprising locals do not turn out to be `acceptable` tenants.

Terrorism has reduced the size of the diplomatic community substantially in Islamabad. So, should the owners rent out their houses to foreigners with fake Pakistani nationality documents, or sell the properties to them? What about the demographic change it can result in? What if there are two such houses inhabited by five siblings? Where will the families live? What portion to rent? Renting out each room separately, as is often done in the West, is not a feasible option locally.

Will the International Monetary Fund (IMF) now regulate the Islamic way of life, too? What is our rubber-stamp parliament for? Is this a budget or a banker`s balance sheet glorified as a budget? M. Shaikh Islamabad