The latest economic survey – a disconcerting story of our elusive targets for the outgoing financial year – substantiates the point. At Rs5,550 billion, the target for FY20 i.e. At a time when even ‘business as usual’ is difficult to carry out, Rs5,550 billion tax collection would be an unusual feat. The unrealistic target is said to reflect the desperation of the government to win over the IMF whose executive board has still to ratify the staff-level agreement for a $6 billion financial bailout package. No wonder the government’s economic managers are ready to go all out in pursuit of the overambitious target, amid high probability of protests by various business associations against the budget.

Source: The Express Tribune June 14, 2019 05:15 UTC