Partly Facetious: Tax projections

ARTICLE: "So who came up with the tax projections for next year?"

"Are you going to make a positive comment or negative?"

"Does it matter!"

"Indeed it does, if it's a positive comment then let me inform you that Federal Board of Revenue is under the administrative control of Hafeez Sheikh as the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance however if there are some issues then be warned that the Chairperson of FBR..."

"Are you being facetious?"

"Partly."

"Ah I see, only partly facetious, yes?"

"You say tomaaato and I say tomato."

"Hate that fruit, its squishy and slippy and..."

"Don't change the subject, anyway my point is why couldn't Finance or FBR work with Commerce to ensure there are no anomalies in the Finance Bill. Why did the Advisor on Commerce Razzak Dawood deem it appropriate less than a week after the budget was announced to request the stakeholders in the private sector to identify anomalies and then to suggest remedies?"

"Hmmm, good point."

"By the way, have these two advisors declared their assets to the Cabinet Division as instructed by the Prime Minister. The two week deadline expired on 15 June..."

"I think the two don't draw a salary and hence are not bound to declare their assets."

"Do they use the minister's office, an office whose upkeep is paid for by the taxpayers? Do they use the air conditioning in that office with the bill paid by the taxpayers'? Are they using the house in the Minister's Enclave? Are they using the government car and the driver who gets paid from the tax payers' money? Are they....."

"I am pretty sure no but I bet if asked they would rather pay for all these perks than declare their assets..."

"Somewhat like the traders who would rather pay a flat rate then..."

"Indeed, and that's how you know that in spite of their wealth and their education and their exemplary employment record these two advisors are true Pakistanis."

"Ha ha, that's true."