Press Release
There is no difference in the budget presented in dictatorship or democracy - the only way forward is Islam's economic system

Budget presented by democratic government has once again proved that whether there is one-man rule (dictatorship) or the rule of the so called elected people (democracy), Pakistan's economy is run based on the failed capitalist principles. For the past nine years, the "intellectuals" of Pakistan were claiming that only the democratic government can solve all problems of Pakistan including the economic. But on the contrary people's democratic government, surrendering to the IMF dictates, has increased electricity prices, imposed ‘carbon tax' on petroleum products and reduced the amount of subsidy by Rs. 120 billion that provided some relief to the people. With these suicidal economic measures Pakistan's economy can never progress. America and Europe provide $46.5 billion and 54 billion Euros subsidy respectively, to their agricultural sector alone and they are not ready to abolish it. Moreover, to destroy whatever is left of Pakistan's crumbling economy, these colonialist nations are using democracy to increase the prices of basic utilities such as electricity and gas. Furthermore, in the present budget new taxes are imposed to finance America's War of Terror. The way the current democratic government is enforcing IMF policies proves that whether there is democracy or dictatorship, Pakistan's budget is always built on capitalist principles. Is the current global economic crisis not enough for those who are smitten by the West to realize that Capitalist economic model has practically failed?! How can a system solve Pakistan's economic woes when it has already failed in a country with huge economy like America? Capitalism failed miserably to eliminate poverty and unemployment as well as provide just distribution of resources or even fulfill the basic needs of millions of people of America. Pakistan's economic problems can only be solved by implementing economic system of Islam. Unlike current system, Islam's economic policies are extracted from Qur'an and Sunnah and are not prepared by people like Shaukat Aziz or Shaukat Tarins who work under the direct supervision of the IMF. Hence after the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" there will be no direct or indirect tax on the poor because Shri'ah has made it haram to tax the deprived rather fulfillment of their basic needs is the responsibility of the state. Oil, gas electricity and natural resources will be declared public property and state will make it available to the people on its cost price. Because of cheap electricity, oil, gas and raw material the production cost of these goods will reduce, resulting in low and affordable prices. Instead of handing over land to the foreigners under the guise of Corporate Farming state will distribute the unused land to landless peasants which will in turn increase the agricultural produce. Islam does not allow import or export duties on its own citizens. This policy will benefit the industry, discourage hoarding and also protect the consumer. All indirect taxes including excise duty, withholding tax, sales tax etc. are non-Shar'i and will be abolished. This will help strengthen the industry and stabilize prices.

Shahzad Shaikh
Deputy Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan