fatman17
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I though we would start EID with a bit of levity
PMs war against poverty
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
By S Rahman
Although the contemporary world believes more in lesser government and thus in the power of market forces and that of supply and demand that determine the prices of commodities, the Government of Pakistan considers it its bounden duty to put in place effective administrative mechanism (as far as possible) - and enabling environment- so that the people dont suffer the ill effects of global economic recession, the root cause of poverty here and there.
Whenever there is interaction between the government seniors and media, businessmen and other leading lights, the matter of price hike is discussed. But on no occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari, or Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, have ever shown lack of concern about the sad plight of majority Pakistanis facing the worst ever hike in the prices of essential commodities.
Even in the matter of reformed GST (General Sales Tax), the government has made it a point to ensure that the common man doesnt suffer due to the imposition of RGST, if at all it gets okayed from the Parliament. The focus, in fact, is on the approval by the Parliament even though the Council of Common Interests, attended also by the Punjab CM and PML-N top leader, has already okayed the RGSTs imposition, in its meeting held on November 8 last.
The question essentially is not that of a particular kind of tax but that of tax culture. According to some patriotic businessmen, almost half of the moneyed people having huge bank accounts, dont pay taxes.
Strangely enough, we condemn corruption but do not consider tax evasion as serious corruption. How can the national economy stand on its feet without tax contribution from the affluent ones?
As a matter of fact, RGST is not a new tax but the reformed form of GST. Secondly, the ratio of sales tax has been brought down to a uniform rate of 15 % as against the previous ratio that had been varying between 17-25 % under GST. Additionally, thousands of small business holders stand exempted as the previous threshold of Rs5 million has been increased to Rs7.5 million in terms of exemption from RGST.
The fact remains that the government is most of the time contemplating action plans to neutralize poverty and to protect the low-income categories against deprivations of sorts.
Take for example Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Waseelae Haq scheme. These programmes have played a significant role in alleviating human suffering. These schemes owe their existence to President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardaris vision.
As for Waseelae Haq scheme it has enabled a good number of people from poor families to tread the path of self-employment and self-reliance as under this programme, as much as three hundred thousand rupees are granted as Qarze Hasna to deserving families for establishing their own small businesses. And BISP facility (Rs1000 per month) is, to this day, available to five million families. Moreover, it is being extended to more and more families. This is in no measure a small-scale achievement on the track of poverty alleviation which is number one priority of Gilani government.
In fact, PM Yusuf Raza Gilani has waged a war against poverty. Those who know him personally, are convinced that he is not going to rest a while before achieving his oft-repeated goal of poverty eradication.
Actually, PPP leaders rather the entire rank and file of Pakistan Peoples Party stand committed to bringing self-esteem (and self-reliance) in the lives of toiling classes. It has to be committed given its founder fathers commitment to ensure roti, kapra and makaan (food, clothing and shelter) in the lives of ordinary citizens.
It was with that objective in mind that the peoples government, after coming into power following the last general elections, launched Benazir Stock Option Scheme according to which labourers have been given 12 per cent shares in industrial units. This has made them co-shareholders in the organizations where they work besides enabling them to fight inflation and exploitation at the hands of the moneyed class.
The best part of this war against poverty and exploitation is that it is being fought on a constant footing, the government leaving no stone unturned to transform adversity into opportunity.
More and more welfare schemes are, therefore, being formulated and brought into practical effect.
While, on one hand, Baitul Maals capacity has been enhanced and its functioning revitalized to empower the poor in combating price hike, the peoples government has provided tractors to farmers at half the price under Benazir Tractor Scheme. The aim again is bringing the prices under control through increase in agricultural productivity and through end to shortage of edible products. In the same connection, the farmers owning less than 25 acres of land and badly hit by recent floods, are being provided free seeds and fertilizers. This step also aims at bringing prosperity in the lives of ordinary and low-income classes.
And as if all these steps were not enough, the government is also vigorously pursuing the matter of price control committees, which are being made more effective for the same objective that of arresting the unbridled price hike.
Apart from that, the federal government is also in complete coordination with provincial governments that are being pushed and motivated into action all the time since the price control matter is essentially a provincial subject.
In all, the fight against price hike, poverty and unemployment is going on with determination and with the belief that very soon, the nation would be rid of poverty and the ignominy that accompanies the menace of poverty. The PPP founder fathers had, in their founding document, compiled at the time of partys inception in 1967, talked about its determination to bring economic prosperity at the doorsteps of all without which remains incomplete the question of emancipation and egalitarianism of the masses.
A large number of people think that these measures will certainly bring down the prices and unemployment in the foreseeable future.
These people are also happy with the Gilani government for regularizing the services of contract employees who were facing uncertainty in their job system.
The people are also happy that more employment opportunities are being created and apart from that, much better welfare schemes like health cover/health insurance and housing schemes are being introduced so as to cater to these basic human needs without putting extra burden on the shoulders of working classes which are normally unable to meet expenditures incurring on their basic necessities of life.
now that you've had a good laugh, we return you to 'reality'
PMs war against poverty
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
By S Rahman
Although the contemporary world believes more in lesser government and thus in the power of market forces and that of supply and demand that determine the prices of commodities, the Government of Pakistan considers it its bounden duty to put in place effective administrative mechanism (as far as possible) - and enabling environment- so that the people dont suffer the ill effects of global economic recession, the root cause of poverty here and there.
Whenever there is interaction between the government seniors and media, businessmen and other leading lights, the matter of price hike is discussed. But on no occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari, or Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, have ever shown lack of concern about the sad plight of majority Pakistanis facing the worst ever hike in the prices of essential commodities.
Even in the matter of reformed GST (General Sales Tax), the government has made it a point to ensure that the common man doesnt suffer due to the imposition of RGST, if at all it gets okayed from the Parliament. The focus, in fact, is on the approval by the Parliament even though the Council of Common Interests, attended also by the Punjab CM and PML-N top leader, has already okayed the RGSTs imposition, in its meeting held on November 8 last.
The question essentially is not that of a particular kind of tax but that of tax culture. According to some patriotic businessmen, almost half of the moneyed people having huge bank accounts, dont pay taxes.
Strangely enough, we condemn corruption but do not consider tax evasion as serious corruption. How can the national economy stand on its feet without tax contribution from the affluent ones?
As a matter of fact, RGST is not a new tax but the reformed form of GST. Secondly, the ratio of sales tax has been brought down to a uniform rate of 15 % as against the previous ratio that had been varying between 17-25 % under GST. Additionally, thousands of small business holders stand exempted as the previous threshold of Rs5 million has been increased to Rs7.5 million in terms of exemption from RGST.
The fact remains that the government is most of the time contemplating action plans to neutralize poverty and to protect the low-income categories against deprivations of sorts.
Take for example Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Waseelae Haq scheme. These programmes have played a significant role in alleviating human suffering. These schemes owe their existence to President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardaris vision.
As for Waseelae Haq scheme it has enabled a good number of people from poor families to tread the path of self-employment and self-reliance as under this programme, as much as three hundred thousand rupees are granted as Qarze Hasna to deserving families for establishing their own small businesses. And BISP facility (Rs1000 per month) is, to this day, available to five million families. Moreover, it is being extended to more and more families. This is in no measure a small-scale achievement on the track of poverty alleviation which is number one priority of Gilani government.
In fact, PM Yusuf Raza Gilani has waged a war against poverty. Those who know him personally, are convinced that he is not going to rest a while before achieving his oft-repeated goal of poverty eradication.
Actually, PPP leaders rather the entire rank and file of Pakistan Peoples Party stand committed to bringing self-esteem (and self-reliance) in the lives of toiling classes. It has to be committed given its founder fathers commitment to ensure roti, kapra and makaan (food, clothing and shelter) in the lives of ordinary citizens.
It was with that objective in mind that the peoples government, after coming into power following the last general elections, launched Benazir Stock Option Scheme according to which labourers have been given 12 per cent shares in industrial units. This has made them co-shareholders in the organizations where they work besides enabling them to fight inflation and exploitation at the hands of the moneyed class.
The best part of this war against poverty and exploitation is that it is being fought on a constant footing, the government leaving no stone unturned to transform adversity into opportunity.
More and more welfare schemes are, therefore, being formulated and brought into practical effect.
While, on one hand, Baitul Maals capacity has been enhanced and its functioning revitalized to empower the poor in combating price hike, the peoples government has provided tractors to farmers at half the price under Benazir Tractor Scheme. The aim again is bringing the prices under control through increase in agricultural productivity and through end to shortage of edible products. In the same connection, the farmers owning less than 25 acres of land and badly hit by recent floods, are being provided free seeds and fertilizers. This step also aims at bringing prosperity in the lives of ordinary and low-income classes.
And as if all these steps were not enough, the government is also vigorously pursuing the matter of price control committees, which are being made more effective for the same objective that of arresting the unbridled price hike.
Apart from that, the federal government is also in complete coordination with provincial governments that are being pushed and motivated into action all the time since the price control matter is essentially a provincial subject.
In all, the fight against price hike, poverty and unemployment is going on with determination and with the belief that very soon, the nation would be rid of poverty and the ignominy that accompanies the menace of poverty. The PPP founder fathers had, in their founding document, compiled at the time of partys inception in 1967, talked about its determination to bring economic prosperity at the doorsteps of all without which remains incomplete the question of emancipation and egalitarianism of the masses.
A large number of people think that these measures will certainly bring down the prices and unemployment in the foreseeable future.
These people are also happy with the Gilani government for regularizing the services of contract employees who were facing uncertainty in their job system.
The people are also happy that more employment opportunities are being created and apart from that, much better welfare schemes like health cover/health insurance and housing schemes are being introduced so as to cater to these basic human needs without putting extra burden on the shoulders of working classes which are normally unable to meet expenditures incurring on their basic necessities of life.
now that you've had a good laugh, we return you to 'reality'
