Did PM Imran just give the corrupt a chance to whiten their black money?

With Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan offering amnesty for the construction sector, netizens are expressing their “disappointment” at what they say is the premier “flip-flopping on his ideals to hold the corrupt accountable”.

PM Imran on Friday gave the status of industry to the construction sector, as he announced opening of the sector along with a package of incentives to boost it with a view to keeping the wheels of economy moving and mitigate the impact of the lockdown on people.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the National Command Centre, the PM said the government provided these exemptions to provide employment to the labourers so that they can be saved from “hunger and the coming difficult circumstances”.

In line with the relief package, the government will not ask construction entities about their source of income for this year as well as approval of a fixed tax regime for the sector.

The PM said: “This [move] will bring down the amount of tax to be paid. Also, if the investment is for the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, we will exempt 90% of the tax on it.”

He announced an Rs30bn subsidy for the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, saying that on the one hand, it will regulate economic activity and on the other, ensure houses for the poor were also built.

He also said that withholding tax on materials and services had been abolished in the informal sector. “Tax will be collected only on steel and cement, mainly because these are the formal sectors.”

Here’s what Twitterati have to say in this regard:

PM Imran Khan says govt will not ask any questions to those who will invest in the construction sector (dirty money, money laundering welcome) a few days after getting Geo/Jang Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman arrested through NAB in a 40 years old fake case. Naya Pakistan!

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) April 3, 2020

What a U-turn! PM unveils amnesty scheme for construction sector https://t.co/UnzWYSOZmq PTI has limited scope of its 2 amnesty in 10 months to only wealthy this time. immunity from declaring income source will b available only to big guns.this isn’t extended to building own home

— Shahbaz Rana (@81ShahbazRana) April 4, 2020

Meanwhile, some resorted to meme-ing it out:

*PM announces that investment in construction sector will not be audited*

Malik Riaz, Jehangir Tareen, Mian Mansha: pic.twitter.com/BJpDmcB1Iq

— Arham Mahmood (@Mahmood_Arham) April 3, 2020

What do you think of the incentives announced by the PM? Let The Current know in the comments…