The Salaried Class Alliance Pakistan has strongly condemned the recent federal budget, asserting that it unfairly targets salaried employees. In a press conference held in Karachi, alliance representatives called upon the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the heightened tax rates impacting their constituents.
Obaidullah Sharif emphasized that the budget’s tax increases place an undue financial strain on salaried individuals, making it increasingly challenging for them to meet basic living expenses. He criticized the Finance Minister’s assertion that the budget imposed no additional burdens on the salaried class, highlighting the substantial rise in their tax contributions over recent years.
Komal Ali echoed these sentiments, underlining the alliance’s non-political stance and its advocacy for a just tax system. She argued that the current tax regime disproportionately affects ordinary citizens who lack the means to influence policy decisions. Ali pointed out the disparity where salaried workers have taxes deducted at source while other sectors, notably agriculture, evade taxation.
A. Ahmed Khan raised concerns over the unequal treatment of the salaried class compared to influential sectors like landlords, who wield considerable political sway. He criticized the legislature’s neglect of issues pertinent to salaried employees, attributing it to the dominance of landlord interests in the assemblies.
The alliance proposed concrete reforms, including a substantial increase in the minimum tax threshold for salaried employees to Rs100,000 per month. They also advocated for the expansion of the tax base to encompass landlords and other currently exempt sectors, envisioning a fairer distribution of tax burdens across society.
Ultimately, the alliance emphasized their principled stand for equitable taxation, advocating for systemic reforms that relieve the disproportionate burden on salaried workers while promoting fiscal fairness for all. They expressed hope that their plea would prompt the Supreme Court to intervene and instigate necessary revisions to the federal budget.