WEB DESK: The surge in economic activities in a country can be called support for the local industry still combatting the adverse effects of the coronavirus lockdown. In indigenous culture, the wedding season is putting a part in the revival too.
The wedding of Pakistani Businessman Sheikh Dawood, who is the son of the Master Tiles Company, vindicated this.
The luxurious marriage ceremonies were organized in Lahore on which an estimated Rs 2 billion was spent.
The absolute grandeur also made the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), body that investigates tax crimes, opened its books too.
However, the records showed all of it was legitimately done as no traces of tax evasion were detected.
A series of events were organized during the prolonged celebrations which started from a Quran-lecture program and renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel was invited as a chief guest.
Roughly, some Rs 2 million was only spent on the first of many events followed.
Famous Pakistani Singers including Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Atif Aslam were also spotted at the events.
The singers were also paid Rs 5.5 million and Rs 5 million respectively. Singer Abrar ul Haq and other performers were also doled out millions of rupees to mark their appearances.
The cost of the makeover of the bride was also estimated to be around Rs 2 million while photographers and moviemakers got Rs 7.5 million for their services.
The embellishment of the wedding site took some Rs 70 million and the Country Clb in Lahore was booked in around Rs 150 million some two months before the programs’ commencement day.
A former FBR official, requesting anonymity, told News360 that the lavish wedding thus boomed economic activities. He said that all companies that rendered services were registered with FBR.
The official said that the services tax on some 80 different products used in the luxurious event was paid.
FBR official told that the amount of sales and services taxes incurred would be Rs 200 million if only calculated roughly around 10 percent of total expenditure.
Javed ButtHowever, the notices from the tax-fraud overseer can incite the rich and elite class to opt for ‘destination weddings’ abroad instead of organizing them in Pakistan when even they have clear tax records.
FBR did not question the big fat wedding of the daughter of Jang Group, Mir Shakeel ur Rehman, in Dubai in 2013. Bollywood Superstar Shahrukh Khan had also performed at the event. Not only he was there but other superstars of the Indian film industry also showed up.
It was circulated on the internet that King Khan was paid a hefty amount of $ 0.75 million for his appearance.
The grand function did not benefit Pakistan’s economy even though all money was earned in Pakistan through television channels and newspapers owned by the media tycoon.
If one can recall the recent grand wedding ceremony of the daughter of India’s business tycoon, Mukesh Ambani, whose spendings were estimated to be over $100 million.
Dozens of international celebrities also flown to India to participate in the event which ultimately benefitted linked industries such as aviation, hotel, and others.
As the ceremony was organized in India, the local industry grabbed a ‘chunk’ of spendings too.
Coming back to Pakistan and considering if the recent grand program had taken place abroad, the local industry could not have earned a single penny from it.
Therefore, no matter how expensive and lavish they could get, the organization of such events in the country can be seen as a tool that augments local economic activities as the sales and other taxes paid against services would eventually land in the national treasury besides generating business.