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2020-21 Budget: Pakistanis in UAE decry lack of incentives

London - In the first quarter, overseas Pakistanis in the UAE remitted $4.6 billion, which was in line with the target set by the government.

Pakistanis in the UAE criticised Islamabad for not offering incentives and relief to its overseas citizens in the 2020-21 budget announced on Friday.
"There was no relief or incentive for overseas Pakistan in the budget. In the first quarter, overseas Pakistanis in the UAE remitted $4.6 billion, which was in line with the target set by the government. I am optimistic that second-quarter figures will match the previous quarter. Therefore, the PTI government should have offered some incentives to overseas Pakistanis. But they left us disappointed again," said Ahmed Shaikhani, vice-president of the Pakistan Business Council.
He pointed out that the country will contract around 1 per cent in the next fiscal year for the second time in its history. He blamed poor governance and lack of planning on the part of the government that led to the contraction of the economy.
Bilal Hussain, a UAE resident, said this is second-consecutive year that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) didn't deliver on the promises made to overseas Pakistan. "It had promised to come up with schemes for overseas Pakistanis to reward them on remitting through legal channels. This would have been a win-win game for us and the government in these tough times. I am wondering what is stopping the government when it is a win-win step for all the parties," he said.
He, however, thanked the government for being very aggressive on repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in the UAE and other countries.

Iqbal Dawood, President of Pakistan Business Council, said the budget is business-friendly because no new taxes were imposed in these tough times when Covid-19 is impact all the countries.

"However, no incentive was offered for Pakistanis working abroad. Government is unable to do more due to tough situation surrounding coronavirus," he added.

- waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com