Even though most Pakistanis don’t submit income tax returns, the government has introduced so many withholding taxes and other measures to bring people into tax net that whether it’s a mobile charge or food at the restaurant, we’re still paying ample amount of taxes.
No matter which political party you vote for, these taxes worth billions of rupees are meant to help the country grow and to let the government start new projects with the tax payer’s interest in mind.
In an ideal world that is.
Unfortunately, this money is being wasted on politically-charged TV and print advertisements. During the annual budget period, a decent amount is put aside for disseminating public service messages. That’s its real purpose.
However, more often than not, the government ends up using it on political campaigns either against their opponents or for self-promotion.
Most of us here can agree on one thing – that’s not what we pay our taxes for.
Use of tax money for political purposes, self-promotion or party promotion is wrong
Even the use of our taxes for the promotion of projects is wrong. If a government has completed some projects, they cannot promote their party by advertising those projects to gain political support. The problem is not limited to a single government or political party, though PML-N leads the charge with the heaviest media campaigns.
The Federal Government
The federal government is the chief culprit here. First there were ads assuring us that electricity issues will be fixed, then came the ads targeting political opponents on various media channels.
Some examples of these include the anti-Imran Khan ads during the 2014 dharna, followed by heavy media campaigns supporting Ayaz Sadiq (private use), against the opposition’s rigging allegations and the Panama revelations.
These are political campaigns against the opposition or for self-promotion and that’s not a legitimate use of public money.
How Much Money Has Been Spent Recently for These Ads
Here are some shocking numbers for reference:
- During 2013 and 2014, Rs. 973,065,912 were paid to 55 TV and 7 radio channels.
- Out of the above, nearly Rs. 250 million were paid to Geo, Rs. 102 million to Dunya News, Rs. 98 million to Express News for these advertisements. ABB Takk, Aaj News, Capital News and Dawn News were also paid over Rs. 50 million each.
- Between December 2015-February 2016 (3 months) Rs. 739,000,000 were used on pro-government ads only.
- 450 million were spent by the federal government during the 2014 dharna, as astounding sum for such a short amount of time.
- From 2013 to July 2016, 251,561 print ads costing nearly Rs. 7,800,000,000 (7.8 billion) have been paid to newspapers only.
- 60,019 ads in the newspapers in 2013 cost around Rs 1.78 billion.
- 58,541 newspaper ads in 2014 cost about Rs 1.63 billion.
- 82,329 newspaper ads in 2015 were charged at Rs 2.7 billion.
- 50672 newspaper ads from January 1, 2016 to July 31, 2016 cost about Rs 1.68 billion.
- In 2016, government used up Rs. 1.528 billion on top of the sidelined advertisement budget.
- Between 2014 to 2016, the federal government has spent Rs. 15,237,000,000 (15.23 billion) on electronic media alone.
- The new Minister of Information has accepted using Rs. 12 billion for government advertisements in the past 36 months. Print media stands at Rs. 8.1 billion while electronic media got
Note: All of the above numbers are based on the official figures given by the Ministry of Information.
The point worth noting is that 2016 seems to be a record breaking year in terms of government advertising on electronic media and newspapers.
Nearly all channels showed videos claiming innocence of the Prime Minister’s family. This was the worst case of misuse of public money as we do not pay taxes for the leadership to use on the defense of their family in the court of public opinion.
What is ironic is that the PML-N leadership had openly spoken against the misuse of government funds on media advertisements back when PPP was in government.
Provincial Governments
The issue is not limited to the federal government. Provincial governments have followed the lead and use the tax payers’ money to pay for political TV campaigns and self-promotion as well now.
Punjab leads the pack with most money spent on media campaigns and promotions, followed distantly by Sindh and KPK.
Punjab government often shows the Chief Minister and various family members in electronic media, newspapers or outdoor advertising for political purposes.
Provincial governments also promote projects through TV ads using tax payers’ money
Sindh government uses paid ads to promote PPP and its initiatives. Back when PPP led the government, they too spent millions on paid ads against the opposition parties.
The KPK government also recently started a media campaign where it showed the projects completed by the PTI-led government. Once again a misuse of tax money for political gains. KPK has made a deal with three media companies to promote the government’s activities amongst the public.
Final Words
It seems as though other provincial governments are following suit by promoting projects using government funds, simply because the issue has been neglected by the media (for obvious reasons) and the public. What is wrong is wrong and simply because one party is getting away with it doesn’t mean that it is right for other political parties to do it as well.
At most, our tax money can be used for public awareness and public service messages. It is not to be used for private agendas or promotion. The use of taxes for anything other than public service is completely unjustified.
Budget for ads is for public service messages and not for political or personal use
Regardless of which political party you support, the tax money is your money and should be spent on you and improving your surroundings.
At the end, we leave a question for our readers. ”Are the hundreds of thousands of rupees each of you (or your family members) pay each year as taxes for PMLN, PTI, PPP or any other political party to use for political gains or for leaders to use for personal publicity?”
Let’s have a productive conversation on the matter instead of resorting to instead of point scoring based on party allegiances.
Sources: Nation, Business Recorder, Business Recorder 2, Dawn, Tribune
if the money spent on advertisement could have been used for real purpose (builing schools and hospitals may be), they would not have need to advertise themself on Media. can’t understand PLMN govt logic and vision of building roads and metros but not building school and investing in people instead of roads. May be they get more kickbacks for these megaprojects. any thoughts?
They do because people don’t understand what should be our priority. They don’t know value of education. One thing our people understand is “paisa”. Jis ke pas paisa hai, wo education b achi de sakta hai bachon ko and health issues b handle kr skta hai and Govt ka kaam sirf roads and bridges bnanay ka hai jo ke hum nai kr saktay. That’s a common person’s view (without or less educational background).
Very good point ,most of Pakistani think like that
In neighboring India and Bangladesh this is common. We somewhere having European and America political traditions in mind when our Awam has mindset of stone age.
You aren’t aware of upgradation work in Punjab schools. In KPK Hazara Division is clearly discriminated, earthquake hit areas still have schools damaged. In Peshawar which is provincial capital only good hospital is lady reading but even after 15 years it is same as it was in 2000. Those who claim to have health and education have done nothing, instead of that they misguided people that other side has roads as priority. These aren’t roads but infrastructure, a less educated will call them roads.
If you have read and know about PPRA rules such kickbacks aren’t possible or are very difficult, specially when army welfare organizations are always bidding in these projects, and are winning 90% of these projects.. Do you think they are giving kickbacks to government officials??
Once i started reading this blog I was thinking this “Zehni Ghulam” Ali Salman will must come in comment section to defend his Party.
And yes he is here.. Those who are ruling us since last 30 years He doesn’t point out on the them… Is k pait ka ek hi dard hai and that is Imran Khan / PTI.
He is one of those Slaves who love their handcuffs.
The article is about Tax-Payer’s money being wasted. Can’t see that in EU and US, despite of spending over 18 years in the EU. Anyhow, are political ads infrastructure bulding? It’s amazing how you lick NOORA’s baIIs even on such a realistic post, sourced by the Ministry of Information (A Govt. Ministry)
Appreciated your efforts in giving awareness to common person’s of the country!
Suna tha Paisa Bolta Hai
“Aj Dekh Bhi Liya”
Thanks Mian Sahab for Wasting of Money & Thanks for Advance for Future Wasting !
He mentioned all provincial governments but particularly federal government for some reason ;)
Check the difference between the Fedral Govt + Provincial govt and KPK government.
KPK just started now but still i condemn them. But atleat they are not showing in ads their “Poora KUMBA”.
And Zehni Ghulam like you really likes to see their forthcoming leaders.. Nasal Dar Nasal Ghulam.
You’re such a sad excuse for a human being. Any how, obviously, he will mention Federal Government more than the other Governments as they spent tonnes more money than them… dohhh! Aamir Bhai, be like GEO, and just say whatever NOORA did is GOOOOOD!
Badshahoe ki hakumat ha . Haram ka paisa ha .
Excuse Me !
It’s Awam Ka Paisa Not Haram Ka Paisa :
It’s all political bribe in the name of ads etc.
The question is, how do we control this? I’ve seen this again and again. Opposition parties always raise this issue, promise to make laws to control this, then finally when they are in power, they continue to misuse funds for advertisements.
The ruling party will never pass a law to stop tax payer money being used for their political objectives. But the law will never pass in the parliament without the ruling party. So how do you address this issue?
Can the courts pass laws? Can somebody else?
Can the media take a stance and say no to these advertising funds?
And even if laws are passed, who will implement and punish the law breakers?
Conundrum, Conundrum. Indeed, democracy is the best revenge against citizens.
KPK government ad does NOT have any politician’s face in it, unlike the PML-N and PPP ads
This is what I am listening and reading from the last 3 years ,many cautious Pakistanis have this in their knowledge but the majority those are giving them votes are living in villages.They are electing the MNAs for parliament of dead conscious,mouth less and speechless.They never bother on national cause or financial and economical matters.The system needs change and this change you can not bring with the current system.The people living in the country side are the biggest culprit in this situation.You pick Zardari,Nawaz ,JUI ANP and many others all are the same ,Pakistan needs a revolutionary leader who is bold,honest and fully nationalist,even he is from Baluchistan or KPK.Imran is OK too,I could’t spot any black material in his character .Hope the nation will get soon as delay will create many complications.