"Dar told the finance committee that he would waive the one percent rise in sales tax if the committee helps the government generate 60 billion rupees."
"Can I make a suggestion?"
"Dar did say that he would listen to anyone who can convince him of the flaws in his budget."
"And you reckon he would listen to me! What are you? Just born as an analyst in this country?"
"OK, so go ahead give it a shot."
"Oh, oh! That is going to activate the Obama administration to monitor your calls, your emails, your..."
"I am talking our budget how would that interest the US?"
"You used the word shot."
"Don't be facetious. Anyway I would like to point out two economic altruisms to Dar. First, he should go after the 3.7 million non-income taxpayers that Nadra identified a year or so ago, and believe me that number could well generate at least half of the 60 billion rupees. Second, his 0.5 percent levy on moveable assets on those who worked abroad and do not pay tax to this country, and need I add, Hafeez Sheikh as well as the Prime Minister's two sons resident abroad as well as Dar come to mind, but my question to him is if these people do not return the money to Pakistan then how in the world will he levy that tax on them? And wouldn't this be an anti-saving measure?"
"He was saying that for the galleries, the documents showed that the tax would be levied on those who have earned and saved money in this country and who have already paid a tax on their savings..."
"Oh dear..."
"And third, Dar envisages the rise in permanent debt to 292.5 billion rupees as opposed to 87 billion rupees in the current year, so there is your response to how he intends to generate money given his anti-saving measures - now how is this going to reduce our debt burden one may ask him."
"You may not ask him besides I thought you said you had only two points to make."
"One more for today: he has shown a tendency to be like Hafeez Sheikh."
"That guy was an economist, no backbone but an economist."
"Think raising salaries of civil servants after saying he wont raise salaries, think..."
"Oh dear lets talk the US...its so much easier on my nerves."
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