जीडीपी नहीं, जेब देखो

Experts say GDP share is no yardstick for farm tax; wheat sold well below the announced price.

Agricultural experts argue that the sector's tax potential cannot be judged by its GDP contribution, because farmers' profitability is shaped by volatile crop prices, yields, input costs, weather shocks and changing market conditions. Mahmood Nawaz Shah, President of the Sindh Abadgar Board, said that in the 2024-25 wheat season the government announced prices of around Rs4,000 per 40 kg and later Rs3,900, while farmers in major producing areas sold wheat at substantially lower rates.

Mr. Shah asked: “If the farmer sells below his cost or expected price, how can that production be treated as taxable income?” He added: “GDP captures the value of production while taxation should ultimately be linked to profitability.” He suggested the government calculate the sector's realistic tax potential using average profitability over five- to seven-year periods.

Muhammad Ali Iqbal, President of Concave Agri Services, said more than eight million farmers were engaged in agriculture, the overwhelming majority cultivating relatively small holdings, and that taxation should take into account input costs, yield and output prices. He said satellite imagery, remote sensing and improved yield-estimation algorithms could estimate cultivated areas and crop production at district and tehsil levels. Aamer Hayat Bhandara of Agriculture Republic called for commodities entering mandis to be weighed through electronic systems.

Sarkar ne gehun ka bhaav Rs4,000 bataya, kisan ne bechna pada kam mein. Ab tax usi bhaav ka? Padosi bhai, kagaz ka dhan tax nahi hota. Prachand Chutiya GDP.

Dekho babu, Sindh Abadgar Board ke president ne seedha sawaal poochha: agar kisan apni laagat se kam mein bechta hai, toh us production ko taxable income kaise maane? Sahi sawaal hai. 2024-25 ke gehun mein sarkar ne Rs4,000 per 40 kg ka bhaav bataya, phir Rs3,900, aur bade ilakon mein kisan ne isse kaafi kam mein becha. Matlab bhaav kagaz par, jeb mein kuch aur.

Experts ke suggestion bhi dilchasp hain: paanch se saat saal ki average profitability, satellite imagery se fasal ka andaza, mandi mein electronic taraazu. Yaani kisan ko ab aasman se bhi dekha jayega aur taraazu se bhi tola jayega. Hum kehte hain, thoda sa kisan se bhi poochh lo. Aath million se zyada kisan, zyadatar chhote khet wale. GDP ka share dekh kar tax lagana vaise hi hai jaise mela dekh kar dukaan ka muhurat tay kar dena. Prachand Chutiya Formula, seedha.

FINAL VERDICTAaj ka 'Bhaav Kagaz Ka, Tax Jeb Ka' Samman, Prachand Chutiya Department ki taraf se, un sab ko jo GDP ko jeb samajhte hain.