A stark imbalance in Pakistan’s tax system has been revealed, as new data shows the country’s “voiceless” salaried class paid a massive 130 billion rupees in taxes during the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year.
This amount is nearly double the entire combined tax contribution from the nation’s traders, wholesalers, retailers, and exporters.
According to the figures, while the salaried class contributed 130 billion rupees, other sectors lagged significantly. Property transactions accounted for 60 billion, exporters paid 45 billion, wholesalers contributed 14.6 billion, and retailers paid just 11.5 billion rupees.
This comparison highlights a harsh reality: the tax burden on the salaried class is three times greater than that of exporters and five times greater than the entire retail and wholesale sector combined.
This trend continues from the previous fiscal year, where the salaried class paid 545 billion rupees. The target for the current year has been set at 600 billion rupees.
Meanwhile, sectors widely considered to be highly profitable—such as exporters, millions of retailers, and property tycoons—are contributing significantly less. This disparity raises serious questions about the fundamental fairness and equity of Pakistan’s tax system.
