It is more than likely that all Pakistanis of sufficient means would like to help the country’s internally displaced persons rebuild their lives.

The losses our IDPs suffered, the trauma they went through, may be beyond the comprehension of their fellow citizens, for the simple reason that the latter did not live the ordeal.

But there is no question that the prayers and sympathies of the nation are with those who were caught in the crossfire in the fight against militancy.

Individuals and organisations have donated generously towards rehabilitation efforts, and international agencies such as the World Food Programme have not been found wanting either.

And as is the case in Malakand today, the military too is active in not just providing a sense of security but also rebuilding infrastructure destroyed in the heat of battle.

That said, the government’s move to levy an IDP tax on salaried persons whose incomes exceed a certain limit is blatantly discriminatory. Why shouldn’t similar contributions be extracted from the country’s industrialists, landlords and top-flight businessmen?

The reason lies in expediency: Pakistan’s salaried class has no option but to pay taxes because those deductions are made at source.

It is perhaps the only segment of society that honestly pays its due share of taxes every year. The system is skewed to the disadvantage of salaried persons, who are squeezed by the exchequer at every turn.

The answer lies in widening the tax net, which is appallingly restricted as we speak, not adding to the burden of a class that routinely contributes to the exchequer in accordance with its means.

Then there is the lack of trust — will the IDP tax reach those who need it, or will it be used to fund a profligate government or line the pockets of corrupt officials?

Whatever the case, the IDP tax is discriminatory and the government must rethink this decision.