ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (INP): The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday said that government should ensure economic justice so that society can get balanced and poor could gain some relief. Budgets since last three decades have not coped rightly with all the economic classes of the society aimed at appropriate distribution of wealth which has resulted in wide gap between rich and poor.

The increasing gulf between wealthy and underprivileged can only be bridged through just taxation to raise enough money for welfare of masses, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

Tens of millions are lagging behind which need programmes to lift them up economically by taxing the privileged who continue to enjoy unjustified concessions since long, he added.

The government had claimed to tax rich to overcome economic crisis but the axe fell on the poor making life of majority miserable while measures to help disadvantaged to work their way up the economic ladder have remained cosmetic.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that seventy thousand families have been identified as affluent who avoid and dodge taxes blocking social mobility in the country.

The Constitution must be amended to bring all kinds of income including farm income in the federal sphere and stop lucrative business of SROs in the FBR.

There is country in the world to have won title of a welfare state without redistribution policy of taxing the rich so that the children of poor do better than parents.

Education can play pivotal role in increasing the ability of low-income Pakistanis to move up the income ladder but our education system remains dysfunctional which is helping increase divide in educational opportunities and outcomes for high- and low-income students. Government must re-examine economic, health, social, and educational policies to help poor transform their economic circumstances.

INP