@Gufi everything CANNOT be done by government. All they need to do is to provide friendly environment to those certain business so locals can take over the task and start producing such products here at home. The business community, the industry people and the consumers, ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TOO.
detailed answer later but first this article
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1535260/lcci-slams-fbr-slapping-duty-without-consultation/
secondly the government has to lay frame works which provide consistency which they are unable to do. That is what is lacking for many international investors to partake in investing. Also the wheat thing yes, the government is directly responsible for ruining our agricultural economy, not taking taxes properly and not implementing the rule of law. A larger tax base would have reduced our budget deficit and the loans wouldnt be needed to balance our budget, and could go towards proper projects to actually attract investors.
Industry and business community have roles to play, but to implement proper tax collection is the root of all problems, direct taxes not being present makes indirect taxes the norm and those who wish to work honestly in the system get shafted and leave. To provide stability, an equal open marketplace, with reduced red tape, is what is needed and none of it is done. And the Government has to monitor and move businessmen to produce imported products in Pakistan, I am sure if Indus Motors was given a deadline for a percentage of its products allowed to be imported, a practical one like 5 years they could reduce the number of imported parts even further.
@Arsalan a lot needs to be done other then indirect taxes, and only when we do that will our economy grow properly. If you can afford a proper house and have no tax return, why are you not audited. If you have a non filer payment for a City or a Corolla and above, why are you not audited. The number of homes in our cities, the number of cars on our roads, and our tax returns are near nothing. A strong Government can bring change, and only a strong Government can do that. Forget the larger issues like PIA and Pakistan Steel mills being in need of major reforms and being in essence black holes for money, useless projects like Orange train, or massive excesses in spending by certain branches of the government which are yet to be tackled. Reduce the deficit with these policy reforms, after that add more taxes. We are a nation of donkeys, the more you load the more we are like oh no more can be done by me yet while the state is dead.
For a look into what excessive taxes does Arsalan take a look at the stock exchange and what has happened after the latest tax hikes. You tax a company, then tax its dividend, then again tax the reciever of said dividend, tax the sale and purchase more every year till there was no profit left for the investor and he said Screw it and walked away. Tax agricultural feudal lords first maybe also with the rest.