Reporting in understandable manner termed challenge for journalists: accuracy of facts, figures in budget stressed
KARACHI: Presentation of accurate facts and figures, provided by the government, during budget reporting in an easy and understandable manner is a challenge and basic responsibility of a journalist. An economic expert, Muzammil Aslam, exchanged these views with selected number of journalists in a day-long workshop on budget reporting, which was jointly organised by Karachi Press Club (KPC) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) Dastoor, here on Saturday.
He was of the view that the government presents facts and figures in a confused way to hide out negative aspects of the budget. He suggested the government to wave off subsidies on all sectors in upcoming budget because it only benefits ‘have’ and ‘have not’ just become tool for gaining sympathy.
Criticising tax collection, he said the government do not take steps for broadening the tax base due to which direct tax collection remained 38 percent while indirect tax collection is reached up to 62 percent of the total collection. Speaking on the occasion, Farooque Moen, a veteran journalist, said the government has failed to materialise the pledges, which they made before election.
“Present government is depending on foreign borrowing, which resulted into an increase in inflation rate and poverty in the country,” he pointed. “In Pakistan, the federal and provincial government five budgets, but masses could not have a sigh of relief in any of the budget, Moen said, adding that people need jobs not opportunities of job.”
Minhajul Rab, Senior Commerce Reporter, has adopted that finance bill is the most technical aspect of budget in which the government made changes, which is not understandable because announcement in the bill made though amendments. He advised journalists for taking services of tax experts for understanding the changes made in the finance bill to present actual picture of changes in applied taxes and financial laws.
He said the government tries to hide out negative impact of budget to make it difficult for journalists to understand the change. Syed Afzal Mohsin, President, KUJ and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Muslim Commercial Bank Kafeel Burney also spoke on the occasion. At the end of workshop, certificates were distributed among the participants.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:5/30/2010
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