LAHORE: Pakistani musician and social activist Shehzad Roy thanked Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for removing sales taxes from books in the federal Budget 2024-25.

"Speaking up makes a difference. Earlier, it (speaking up) was feared, however, now it is fearful if (we) don't speak," the social activist said regarding his efforts in the field of education and request to the government authorities.  He also added: "We all should speak up and raise our voices."Roy said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured him that the decision of imposing a 10% sales tax on books in the federal budget 2024-25 will be reviewed. In addition to removal of taxes on books. , he demanded the government to maintain the restoration of tax rebate for teachers. On Monday, he took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and informed that he also made an appeal to the premier and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to restore the 25% tax rebate for teachers. "They both reassured me that they will reconsider this decision with a favo[u]rable outcome," Roy wrote. The finance minister informed the National Assembly earlier yesterday that stationery items would remain exempted from taxes.