ANJUM ibrahim

HSD price not increased

“I was so upset.”

“Are you referring to the Prime Minister’s two-hour appearance on a private television channel with HS sitting next to him claiming that the military and the civilian government for the first time ever are on the same page…”

“Hey, there are many who want to tear that page and burn it.”

“Indeed, that would be the Sharifs and his nawalas and the Zardaris and his dwindling Zardis but that ain’t gonna happen.”

“Politics is not that cut and dried in our country. Our history is replete with examples of those on the out have returned with a vengeance. But anyway when I said there are many who want to burn the page I meant the traders and the industrialists and the textile producers and the farmers courtesy HS and…”

“HS? High Speed Diesel whose price has not been increased in spite of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s recommendation to raise its price though reports indicate that the sales tax on HS has been raised and petroleum levy decreased.”

“Why? I don’t understand…”

“Because my friend the levy is a flat rate with collections not rising as its international price rises however sales tax is a percentage tax and its collections rise as the international price of oil rises. And God bless Trump who is engaging in foreign policy moves that would further raise the price of HS. But you side tracked me again when I said HS I was referring to Hafeez Sheikh not high speed diesel. And if The Khan is taking economic policy advice from him then God help the country because I reckon the people of this country may join the productive sectors in coming out on the streets…”

“But…but HS says the budget is excellent and the civilian and military establishment…”

“The electricity subsidy to the exporters is for four hours a day not 24 as before, courtesy HS, the bulk of taxes are on sales, a regressive tax, utility prices are up again due to what HS agreed with the International Monetary Fund team and…”

“Yeah, yeah, the economy would nose dive, and the budget clearly indicates a growth of 2.4 percent which is abysmally low and that is all due to the policies of HS but that is expected and no that didn’t cause me any upset.”

“These are major policy decisions that would bring the government to its knees and…”

“I don’t care any more, as my rupee shrinks in value I will buy less and less and if I can’t afford the rent I will shift my family to one of the safe shelters.”

“So what has upset you?”

“Naswar is banned on flights and that is a travesty of justice.”

“Granted that HS’s budget makes that still affordable for the middle income and poor yet it’s not good for your health and…”

“You know if anyone wants to lose elections in France he imposes a tax on cigarettes and if The Khan wants to lose elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa then he taxes naswar or bans the use of naswar on flights…”

“But it’s the Arabs…”

“No matter that is what I predict and unlike the budget predictions this will be more accurate.”