Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during his speech in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday lamented how the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has imposed taxes on the people of Pakistan.
Talking about a list of items on which the government-imposed taxes, Bilawal said that the people of Pakistan are in pain. He said, “It is always said [by the goverment] that Pakistan does not have inflation, this is not based on reality. If you see the statistic, Pakistan has the most inflation as compared to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and India.”
Asking for the Speaker’s attention, Bilawal said, “Speaker Sahib, tax on contraceptives has been imposed as well.”
“It was not expected from a khiladi [player] like [Prime Minister (PM)] Imran Khan to impose a tax on contraceptives as well,” said Bilawal.
“Sir, contraceptives are not a laughing matter. There is a population explosion in regions of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. You [PM Khan] are not even providing basic needs to the [people] in terms of food, sufficient jobs, education, and health. The entire world is supporting this sector and you are imposing a tax on contraceptives,” said Bilawal.
The PPP chairman further said, “There is a crisis of HIV and AIDS, which is not being informed to the people. This a very serious matter.”
“Through this mini-budget, by imposing a tax on contraceptives, you have proved to the nation that Imran Khan Sahib has imposed a tax on everything and did not leave [contraceptives] out of it. Khan Sahib is imposing a tax on an infant’s food, milk this is a direct hit on the weakest class in our society. You [Imran Khan] have literally snatched food from a child’s mouth.”
“You are damaging women’s empowerment. You are damaging the right of choice and independence of women,” said the PPP leader.
“Both your [Imran Khan] decisions [to impose a tax on contraceptives and milk, food products of infants] will have historic damage,” said Bilawal Bhutto.
However, it is pertinent to mention here that the most common contraceptives that are available in the market which are being taxed are condoms.
