Lahore, June 25: Pakistani women in general have supported a suggestion put forward in a post-budget debate session in the Punjab Assembly that taxes should be imposed on beauty salons.

PML-Q Forward Bloc member Sheikh Alauddin had on Thursday suggested that 100 percent tax should be imposed on beauty salons, as they made a lot of money, but did not pay the government anything, which was a good reason to tax them.

Beauty salons were included in the luxury category, he said and added that at an average 100 brides went to beauty salons in upscale areas every day during the peak wedding season, and paid tens of thousands of rupees to these salons for their services.

A large number of customers are reportedly of the view that beauty salons should be taxed as their businesses were not seasonal and they earned throughout the year. Sarah Abdullah, a customer said that she paid Rs 24,000 every six months to get her hair straightened and streaked. “Of course beauty salons should be taxed. They get a lot of business and belong to the luxury category, as they do not deal with essentials. They should be taxed and the money should be spent on welfare projects,” the Daily Times quoted her as saying.

When told that after the tax was imposed, the charges she paid would be raised from Rs 24,000 to at least Rs 30,000, she said, “We’ll see to that later.”

Arooj, another regular at beauty salons, said that beauty salons made more profit than they had invested. She said, “Recently we paid Rs 17,000 only for my sister’s wedding makeup. I paid Rs 10,000 for my own makeup. If beauty salons charge us so much, why should they be spared of taxes?” she said.

But, the beauty salon owners said that the impact of the taxation would be directly on the public. Beauty salons would not bear the burden on themselves as they had set their budgets according to their current incomes and would have to raise the charges of their services if they were to maintain their standards, the Daily Times quoted them as saying..

Those working at “New Look” beauty salon on MM Alam Road , said that the owner of salon was chalking out new rates for its services since the suggestion of the tax in the Punjab Assembly.

A beauty salon of repute in Pakistan charges at least Rs 14,000 for bridal makeup and Rs 6000 for party makeup. These charges can reach up to Rs 25,000 and Rs 11,000 respectively in lavish beauty salons. After taxation, these rates will further increase by several-fold. Beauty salons in not-so-posh localities charge less than the large beauty salons, but they will also be affected by taxation. Well-known beauty salons also offer photo shoot services and charge customers separately for that. (ANI)