By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
KHYBER: Sharifullah Afridi, president of the Teachers’ Association of Khyber District, criticised what he called “unjust and harsh” tax deductions from teachers’ salaries, despite existing tax exemptions. In a statement, he described the move by the provincial government and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as akin to “stepmotherly treatment” and a clear violation of official promises.
Afridi said that while the government claims to provide relief to teachers, the FBR’s removal of tax exemptions and subsequent deductions had caused severe financial strain. “Inflation has already burdened teachers, and now these unexplained deductions, made without prior notice or clarification, are pushing them into serious economic hardship,” he added.
He demanded the immediate reversal of the decision, full reimbursement of unlawfully deducted taxes, and the prompt implementation of the promised tax relief. Afridi warned that if the issue was not resolved, the Teachers’ Association of Khyber would reserve the right to pursue all constitutional, legal, and democratic options, including public protests.
