The importance of foreign exchange reserves as a strategic asset for any country cannot be overemphasized. A budgetary deficit cannot be so dangerous because it can be overcome by printing money whose effects would eventually be absorbed by the economy. But if the foreign reserves fail it poses a grave threat to sovereignty because the country has to beg the other countries for help which gives them a chance to strategically exploit the borrower. The balance of payment deficit has bedevilled our country since independence resulting in its great instability and economic poverty. If somehow we could get rid of this problem, our country would emerge as an international power to reckon with. So it is easy to see why the IMF and other international agencies make us adopt policies that would keep our reserves down. Of course, the solution to this problem lies mainly in enhancing our economy. But the economy is depressed most seriously by injudicious taxation policy. It is sad to note that our countrys position at this moment as business-friendly nation falls at 89th position out of 100 internationally. With such dismal rating it might take us until doomsday to be able to stand on our own feet. Our expatriate citizens can work wonders for their country if our government takes sufficient interest in creating facilities to repatriate their earnings. This is how initially China, Malaysia and other south Asian countries started to rise. But unfortunately our expatriates face all kinds of hurdles in sending their money home. Even the tax policy regarding remittances is extremely hostile to them. An expatriate would first and foremost like to send money to his loved ones. But as soon as, for example, the money is received by the parents from abroad the income tax department starts chasing them in hot pursuit. A case in point is an old mother living in Muzaffargarh whose son sent her money, on which he had already paid the income tax abroad, to buy a car to alleviate her old age problems. But although all the taxes were paid here at the time of purchase and income tax also continues to be paid with the annual token tax, the income tax officer Muzaffargarh has sent her a notice to present herself before him with two-year tax returns. This old lady is a typical local housewife with no personal income and her husband has been a regular tax payer throughout his life now in retirement. If the son comes to know the plight of his parents at the hands of income tax department, would he still continue to remit foreign exchange to Pakistan that causes so much trouble to his parents? Would others not learn from his sad situation? The question that comes to ones mind from this episode is that our country is being run by a bureaucracy faithful to their own country or to some foreign interests? Muhammad Arif, Muzaffargarh, september 10.