THE POOR FEUDAL LORDS OF SINDH

THE POOR FEUDAL LORDS OF SINDH

BY

M A J Y D A Z I Z

According to senior Commerce Reporter Sabihuddin Ghousi of DAWN, the rural elite in Sindh paid a "princely" amount of Rs 120,000 income tax during the first five months of the current fiscal year. In 1994-95 they had shelved out Rs 318,000 to the Treasury as income tax. He further stated that last year the Sindh government fixed an ambitious target of Rs 10 million for collection of tax on agricultural income. This year that target has been rationalized to a more practical Rs 343,000.

There are only about 1000 landlords who possess more than 4000 production index units (PIU), whereas there are more than 250,000 of these ‘khatedars’ in the province. This pathetic collection of only Rs 120,000 manifests into a very sad outlook for the feudals of Sindh. The lower collection than even last year points to a very bad year for them. Therefore, there is an imperative need to bolster the confidence of these lords and at the same time alleviate their suffering. It is more important because these are the people who are the backbone of the country’s economy and these are the people who are out in the fields, come rain or shine. Pakistan will become a major importer of commodities such as rice, wheat, sugar, and seasonal fruits if these lords are allowed to go under. The situation is really serious as the tax figures reveal.

The low collection denotes low income. Thus it should be decreed that certain steps be undertaken to help out these 1000 ‘khatedars’. For example :

It should be announced that henceforth all plots of lands, palatial estates, and luxury apartments owned by the feudals in Karachi or in other urban areas of Sindh be declared as agricultural land. They should be re-classified as barns, silos, or store-houses as if they are used in agriculture production. These properties should be exempted from all kinds of duties, taxes, and levies.

These properties be allowed as collateral for loans upto twice their market value or cost price, whichever is higher. There will be no stamp duties or capital gains taxes due from these lords in case they sell these properties.

The Pajeros and Landcruisers in use of the lords be considered as agriculture vehicles in the same category as tractors, and they can be purchased under the Awami Tractor Scheme. Moreover, all vehicles purchased by the lords be exempted from import duty, sales tax, regulatory duty or any other such levies.

The feudal lords be provided electricity at a rebated rate of 50% so that they can benefit from this concession and operate their tubewells, etc to the maximum capacity. WAPDA / KESC can establish a new surcharge for the urban consumers to offset any loss incurred due to this concession.

The feudal lords be provided tickets by PIA at 50% discount so that they may travel to Islamabad, Karachi, or even for "medical trips" to Las Vegas or the French Riviera.

The feudal lords be provided seeds free of cost, and at the same time there should be a 50% subsidy on purchase of pesticides and fertilizer so that the cost of production is reduced and the feudal lords may be able to get a better margin for their produce. This will allow them substantial income per year.

The Sindh government should also provide a grant of Rs five million to any of these 1000 ‘khatedars’ who possess over 4000 PIU, and who would like to stand for election for Parliament. To meet the gap, the government can find avenues to increase the tax burden in the urban areas, especially in Karachi, since the Karachiites are being made to pay more and more taxes every year, inspite of the troubled situation in the City.

The feudal lords be provided loans at very reduced mark-up rates and there should be easy procedures and terms to write-off these loans on the request of the feudal lords.

The feudal lords who own and operate their own private jails be given grants by the government so that they may be able to defray the costs of maintaining these jails. Naturally, one has to assume that these jails contain anti-social elements who are out to destroy the country and thus these lords are providing a social service to the province, and to the citizens.

Notwithstanding what the IMF wants, it is the duty of the government to assiduously and sincerely protect the feudal lords of the province because without them, this province will go to rot. The feudal lords area must be given all privileges if Sindh is to survive, otherwise the province will be without the expertise and benevolence of this exalted group. What will happen to the poor haris if this group goes into default ? How will the patwaris, the WAPDA ex-ens, and the irrigation department officials survive if there are no feudal lords living in splendor and doling out largesse to them ? What will happen to the shikargahs if there are no lords to sustain them ? How will the VVIPs then go about enjoying the immense pleasure they derive from these shoots, if there are no feudal lords to pamper and please them ? Who will then patronize the mujra sessions, etc ? These are mind-boggling questions.

The Federal government is sincerely advised to introduce relevant amendments in the Constitution so that this very important breed of feudal lords is protected from all conspiracies of extracting bhatta from them in the form of taxes. These feudal lords perceive themselves as Masters of this nation’s destiny. This honor and privilege must not be denied them. It is upto the government to initiate policies and plans to extract as much taxes and duties as it can from the industrialists, the businessmen, and the salaried people, so that the country can effectively protect the feudal ,lords and give them the opportunity to live like royalty in the manner they are accustomed to for decades. After all, the feudal lords believe that they own Pakistan, and they have the inalienable right to do what they want. The Welsh national anthem vividly says it all on behalf of these feudal lords : Mae hen wlad fy nhadau. It means "The land of my fathers".