For the first time in history, the salaried class of Pakistan has taken a unified stance by writing a letter to the prime minister, urging for tax relief and a revision of current tax policies.
The letter was sent by Salary Alliance Pakistan, a representative organization of the salaried workforce, and a copy was also dispatched to the finance minister.
The letter highlights that the government unfairly placed a historic burden of taxes on the salaried individuals. According to the alliance, the tax revenue generated from the income of salaried people across the country is estimated to exceed Rs350 billion. This amount is significantly higher than the taxes paid by retailers, wholesalers, and agricultural workers nationwide.
It has appealed to the government to review the tax slab of the salaried class and reduce the burden. The general secretary of Salary Alliance Pakistan stated that the salaried class pays many times more tax than other sectors, and the organization is appealing for a revision and reduction of the tax slab.
Specifically, they requested the government to increase the annual tax exemption limit for the salaried class from Rs600,000 to Rs1.2 million.
In their letter, the Salary Alliance Pakistan also called for the abolition of the 10% additional tax imposed on higher income salaried individuals. They argue that the heavy tax burden on the salaried class has led to an exodus of highly skilled professionals, including doctors, engineers, bankers, and teachers, who are seeking opportunities abroad.
Nasser Hussain Tabani, a representative from Karachi, emphasized the growing difficulty for salaried individuals to bear the heavy taxes on their incomes. He stated, "It has become impossible for the salaried class to pay heavy taxes on salaries."
