Despite huge burden of taxes in this budget, 75% of all tax revenues will just go in paying interest on and instalments of previous debt. Last year, government spent around Rs 400 billion in PSDP. Spending every year in PSDP falls short of announcement. This Rs 400 billion is less than even 5% of what we will pay in debt servicing and less than 20% of what we will spend in defense.
Authors argue that theoretically, Zakat can promote the higher objectives of a country’s economy. The imposition of Zakat on the assets and business of Muzakki provided the conditions of the haul and nisab have been met encourages the productivity of Muzakki. It urges them to be productive and prudent in their investments. It triggers an increase in labour supply and investments. Zakat transfer leads to higher consumption and spending which is good for the businesses and economy.
Zakat helps poor to meet their essential needs even in an inflationary environment. Contrarily, higher indirect taxation results in inflation. However, Ushr, which is a form of Zakat would produce results otherwise by helping poor and needy people who are affected the most from inflation.
Islamic Economics Project 