If we need to attract and retain quality researcher to academia, there is another solution for the universities: raise the fees charged from the students and use that money to pay the researchers higher to compensate. How does that sound to those who are in favor of withdrawal of tax exemption.
In my mind at least, the protest is not to protect our own interests (i.e. the interests of researchers), this would also go a long way helping those poor families that are barely affording university education for their children. Because if we don't protest now, things will eventually get there when it is decided to raise the fees even higher in the interest of the students. Which will surely lead to protests nationwide based on my naive understanding of the system.
Regards,
Shahzad Rajput.
In favor of peaceful demonstration.
--- In pakgrid@yahoogroups.com, Saad Zafar <pakprofessionals@...> wrote:
>
> There are also other issues to consider.Â
>
> 1. The withdrawal of tax exemption for non-profit educational institutions would mean that they would be paying taxes as commercial entities. The owners of the trust would have no obligation/incentive to reinvest the profits into education. This can't be good for fledgling education sector in the country.
>
> 2. The 5% withholding taxes from students for fees would overburden their parents. Not everyone is a wealthy businessman/landlord.Â
>
> 3. The total tax collected from the educational institutions, students, teachers would only amount to approx 3bn. There is no guarantee that this amount would go to education sector.
>
> Saad
> PS Wahaj bhai, I am for the demonstration
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Arshad Ali Shahid <arshad.ali@...>
> To: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 5:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [pakgrid] Withdrawal of tax exemption: Teachers, researchers berate decision
>
>
>
> Â
> Much of question raised by Mr. Sheikh Usman N. has been answered by Mr. Asif Mufti. I would simple add that in 80's many S&T scholars completed Ph.D. and many did not come back; those came back to Pakistan, left soon. I remember Mr. Javid Jabbar, the then Minister of S&T cried in one of CSP Islamabad event and admitted that we could not offer job to these highly qualified people. Mr. Tahir Ch. is getting Old (and started forgetting things). Then we see the Era of 2000- when Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman brought revolution in Education especially IT, and we see so many private sector Universities competing with the world class universities. Now you see Ph.Ds in even public sector Universities as a result of these incentives and TT salary package.
> I am surprised that many voices have been raised against faculty/researcher incentives. But nobody has condemned the relaxation given to "Music/Fashion Shows". They MUST be having good missions; Govt should open more Universities for Music and Fashion design and announce exemption to those faculty; good luck to my country men/women.
>
> Â
> Arshad Ali Shahid (Ph.D)
> Professor and Head,
> Department of computer science,
> National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences,
> Islamabad
> Phone# 111-128-128 ext. 204
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM, Sheikh Usman N. <usman.nadeem@...> wrote:
>
>
> >Â
> >Dear Dr. Arshad,
> >
> >
> >Can you please justify the quality of school, college, university teachers present in universities because of this tax break which was in place? With all due respect sir, I find most of them working for money rather than creating a knowledge environment.
> >
> >
> >I am an engineer, why should I not have the tax break? I am a bigger target for brain drain rather than a university/college teacher. Kindly elaborate on this. Thanks.
> >
> >
> >Regards
> >Usman.
> >
> >
> >
> >On Thu, Jun 20, 2013 at 10:58 PM, Arshad Ali Shahid <arshad.ali@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Â
> >>Dear Colleagues,
> >>AoA,
> >>We must appreciate Dr. Amir Hayat for initiating this call. It is unfortunate
> that the Punjab Govt has reduced/exempted the tax on "Music and fashion
> shows", whereas the federal Govt has withdrawn the tax exemption given to
> teacher & Researcher. Â This show the
> interest and intention of our leaders for alleviation illiteracy and poverty. Â In a country where shoes are sold in Air-Conditioned
> shops and books on footpath, you can expect this attitude from our leaders. They
> are not interested to bring the big fish (landlords and industrialist) in the
> tax-net  rather show their efficiency to
> IMF Â by such withdrawing such exemptions
> and increasing electricity/petrol prices etc. , so that they can get more loans
> and enjoy next five years. We should stand up and raise our voice against this
> move.
> >>
> >>
> >>Arshad Ali Shahid (Ph.D)
> >>Professor and Head,
> >>Department of computer science,
> >>National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences,
> >>Islamabad
> >>Phone# 111-128-128 ext. 204
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 9:38 PM, Amir Hayat <amir.hayat@...> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Â
> >>>Dear Colleagues, AOA
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I believe you are aware that the government is planning to remove the 75% income tax exemption from university & research institutes employees.
> >>>
> >>>Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman is the architect of current higher education policies that includes better salary packages and 75% tax exemption for faculty members of universities and research institutes. The main objective was to attract smart people in academia so that both education and research flourishes in Pakistan. The policies did work, today when you enter any good university, you find people who are highly educated, active in research and as good as their counterparts in industry.Â
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>While people in academia do NOT enjoy as many perks as their counterparts in government jobs and industry yet they do get a decent salary and 75% tax exemption that tries to compensate for the otherwise wide gap in the related perks & privileges. If the government is planning to withdraw this tax exemption then time is not very far when they will ax the Tenure Track and similar other Systems and take the higher education sector to the bad old days.Â
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>The citizens of Pakistan had high hopes from PML(N) that they will adopt education friendly policies and will significantly increase the education budget. On the contrary the are adopting policies that will discourage people from joining education sector and encourage them to leave it and join either industry or universities in middle east and in West.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>At a personal level I will urge the prime minister and the finance minister to withdraw this anti 'higher education & research' policy change from the budget. If that does not happen in the next few days then the university teachers association should give a call for peaceful protests all over the country.
> >>>
> >>>Regards,
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Dr. Amir Hayat
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Sheikh Usman N.
> >
> >"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight with you, then you win"
> >-Gandhi
> >
> >http://sheikhusman.blogspot.com/
> >http://twitter.com/sheikh85
> >
> >
>
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