E-STAMP TAX PAYMENT: Paying e-stamp duties has become a frustrating ordeal. During a recent attempt, I visited a branch of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in Clifton which refused to accept the payment, stating it was not authorised to receive it. Later visits to multiple branches after 3pm on a Friday also resulted in refusals on the grounds that it could not be accepted after 3pm. The next day, I visited the NBP and Sindh Bank branches that operate on Saturdays, but the staff directed us to return on Monday. The banks should accept e-stamp payments during official hours — including Fridays and Saturdays — and stop creating unnecessary hurdles for the customers.
Faheem Abbas
Karachi
MASSIVE SHORTFALL: This is with reference to the report ‘FBR beats revised tax target by Rs21 billion’ (Aug 18). The fact is that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has missed the original target set in the budget 2025-26 by Rs1.127 billion. This staggering shortfall generated a huge fiscal deficit that was plugged by borrowing mostly from local banks. Consequently, Pakistan’s official debt stock has risen to a record Rs84 trillion. Unfortunately, the media does not seem to be well-versed in analysing and reporting economic and financial matters in a transparent manner. There is no critical appraisement to check the veracity of the information presented independently for educating the public.
Arif Majeed
Karachi
BILLS, BUT NO GAS: The residents of Ghiyasabad continue to receive their gas bills every month even in the absence of gas supplies. In some areas, gas is not available even for an hour. This raises an important question: are consumers being fairly billed when the service itself is not consistently available? The authorities should properly investigate the matter, examine the actual gas supply and billing records of affected areas, and ensure that consumers clearly understand the basis of every charge on their bills. People deserve consistent gas supplies, fair bills and an effective system to launch complaints.
Iqra Bibi
Peshawar
Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2026
