Pakistan expats upset as airfares surge after new taxes

[Al Bhatti]

June 04, 2014

Pakistan expats upset as airfares surge after new taxes

New budget increases excise duty on international travel by 30% to 46%


The newly announced 2014-15 budget has brought good news for Pakistan’s public sector employees but not for its overseas citizens as foreign travel to and from Pakistan will become dearer due to new excise duties.

While announcing the new budget, Federal Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said the Excise Duty on international travel has been increased between 30 and 46 per cent by the government in the new budget, putting a huge burden on the pockets of the overseas Pakistanis.

Under the new budget, Federal Excise Duty on Economy Class traveller has been increased from Rs3,840 (Dh143) to Rs5,000 (Dh186), an increase of Rs1,160 (Dh43) – or 30 per cent – per ticket. While Business Class and First Class travellers will now have to pay Rs10,000 (Dh373) duty on their air tickets compared to Rs6,840 (Dh255) earlier – an increase of Rs3,160 (Dh118), or 46 per cent.

The news disappointed Pakistanis residing in the UAE, asking the government to withdraw the duty hike.

“The hike is unjustified and no government ever took overseas Pakistanis interest seriously. This government is not exception either. The government knows the important role played by overseas Pakistanis for their contribution in foreign exchange reserves. It’s the remittances sent by Pakistanis in the UAE and other countries around the globe that help government to meet its debt obligations; but they never pay heed to our needs and always burden us with new taxes or duties,” says Waseem Ansari, a UAE resident for over 17 years.

Another resident T. Usman said the worst part is increase in excise duty for the Economy Class as most of the Pakistani travellers from the UAE in this category are from the middle class and the government should withdraw the duty.

“The PML-N government is not willing to give us (overseas Pakistanis) voting rights but is quick to impose new duties,” Usman said.

Pakistan expats upset as airfares surge after new taxes - Emirates 24/7

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Enter Pakistan pay taxes, stay in Pakistan pay taxes, leave Pakistan pay taxes. And in return what we get from the government? Peace? Security? Basic rights of citizens?

No one will dislike to pay if there is something in return.

 

[Al Bhatti]

June 4, 2014

New budget disappoints Pakistani expatriates in UAE
Many feels their contribution is completely ignored

Pakistani expatriates in the UAE yesterday expressed their disappointment over the new budget, saying that they have completely been ignored in the new Pakistani budget.

The budget, second of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif government, is just an effort to maintain the old books and no actual relief has been given to the people, said prominent Pakistani businessmen and community leaders in the UAE.

The budget has a revenue increase of 10 per cent as compared to the last year but the government has not allocated enough money for development, said Mohammad Nafees, a leading Pakistani chartered accountant in Dubai, said “The government had made many promises but didn’t fulfil them in the budget,” he said.

Overseas Pakistanis, he said, have completely been ignored as if they do not exis, though they provide the much needed revenue of Rs17 billion to Islamabad for bridging the import export deficit. The country’s exports has a total Rs27 billion while its imports stands at Rs40 billion. “I am disappointed that the budget has no mention of the Overseas Pakistanis at all,” he added.

Nafees said that Islamabad had allocated just five per cent for annual development, which is far less than other countries in the region. Also, nothing has been done for the private business sector in Pakistan.


Infrastructure building

Tanveerul Islam Khawaja, Chairman of Pakistan Business Council Dubai, said it is mainly a development budget as government has allocated or is planning to spend more money on infrastructure building. He also appreciated Islamabad’s decision to build the Lahore-Karachi Motorway.

He said the Sharif government has taken some basic measures to improve the life of the people, including the government employees. Also, good steps have been announced to increase the country’s textile exports. The government should have also thought about Pakistanis living abroad as they remit the much needed foreign exchange to the country. “We have not seen any special benefits for Overseas Pakistanis,” said Khawaja.

Atif Malik, a Director of the Pakistan Business Council, said that overseas Pakistanis will continue to play their role in the country’s development though they have been ignored in the budget. Overall, it is a good budget as the government has shown its commitment to development and other important issues.

“The country has been facing major challenges on several issues such as security, water and electricity, health and poverty. What is important now is a proper implementation on the budgetary allocations,” he added.

Ahmad Shaikhani, Director of Pakistan Business Council in Dubai, said that the budget was somewhat balanced though it has not mentioned anything about Overseas Pakistanis.

Shaikhani said the government should have done for the Overseas Pakistanis as they are one of the country’s revenue source. It is, however, good to note that Islamabad is more focused on development, trade, and security issues, he said.

Akram Farooqi, a Pakistani community leader in Al Ain, said the budget its nothing but business as usual. The government should have focused more on health, education, and security instead of giving more attention to road building. “It has disappointed millions of Oversea Pakistanis by promising them nothing in the budget,” he said.

New budget disappoints Pakistani expatriates in UAE | GulfNews.com

 

[VCheng]

Enter Pakistan pay taxes, stay in Pakistan pay taxes, leave Pakistan pay taxes. And in return what we get from the government? Peace? Security? Basic rights of citizens?
No one will dislike to pay if there is something in return.

But what comes first? A government that has no money cannot provide for its citizens. Citizens that do not get any services do not want to pay taxes. So what happens next?

 

[Orakzai]

But what comes first? A government that has no money cannot provide for its citizens. Citizens that do not get any services do not want to pay taxes. So what happens next?

we certainly do not want to pay for 85 bomb proof vehicles convoy and 572 personnel guards of our Incompetent PM.

 

[My-Analogous]

But what comes first? A government that has no money cannot provide for its citizens. Citizens that do not get any services do not want to pay taxes. So what happens next?

Nuke us (people) and then live happily after that

 

[Fracker]

5 Omr is that big amount to cry of, like its been mentioned in the news, but fare are actually got double somehow. Clearly showing money grabbing tacktis from airlines.
Its ridiculous to pay double of what you were paying before. I might postpone my visit until things become saturated.

 

[Armstrong]

5 Omr is that big amount to cry of, like its been mentioned in the news, but fare are actually got double somehow. Clearly showing money grabbing tacktis from airlines.
Its ridiculous to pay double of what you were paying before. I might postpone my visit until things become saturated.

Bhai seh milneii bhi nahin aiiii gaaa ?

 

[Fracker]

Bhai seh milneii bhi nahin aiiii gaaa ?

Khuwahish tu barri hey, par harr khuwahish purri kahan hotti hey. :-(

 

[VCheng]

we certainly do not want to pay for 85 bomb proof vehicles convoy and 572 personnel guards of our Incompetent PM.

How about the basics, like clean water and power? Or roads and schools and hospitals?

Nuke us (people) and then live happily after that

Why waste money like that? Nukes are expensive to build and maintain.