Salaried Class Paid Rs. 600 bn, Landlords Less than Rs. 10bn in Taxes: Asad Umar

Former finance minister Asad Umar has strongly criticised the government's economic policies, describing the past four years as a particularly challenging period for Pakistan's economy. He argued that weak economic growth, persistent inflation and rising poverty have placed a growing financial burden on ordinary citizens and significantly reduced their purchasing power. Umar highlighted what he described as an imbalance in the country's tax system, claiming that the salaried class contributed more than Rs. 600 billion in taxes during the previous year. In contrast, he alleged that landlords, feudal families and wealthy landowners across the four provinces collectively contributed less than Rs. 10 billion, raising questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the existing taxation structure. He also criticised the increase in petroleum levies, pointing out that the levy imposed on petrol had risen from Rs. 50 to Rs. 117 per litre. According to Umar, higher levies and energy-related costs have added further pressure on households already struggling with increased living expenses. The former finance minister also questioned the government's broader energy strategy, particularly plans to develop additional power projects. He raised concerns over whether the proposed projects would provide sustainable economic benefits and address the country's long-term energy challenges. Umar's remarks come amid continued debate over Pakistan's economic direction, taxation policies, energy costs and the distribution of the tax burden among different sections of society.