Facing the music: 1,600 shops sealed over non-payment of tax

PESHAWAR:

The excise and taxation department has sealed six shopping complexes in Karkhano Market on Thursday over the failure to pay urban immovable property tax.

Officials told The Express Tribune an operation was launched on Thursday against tax defaulters and over 1,600 shops were sealed in Sitara and Haroon markets.

Muhammad Kalimullah, an excise and taxation officer, told The Express Tribune, “These issues are old and we are tired of holding meetings with the market owners and giving them notices to pay their taxes.”

Karkhano Market is a trade hub of smuggled goods and comprises many shops. Kalimullah said the shopowners had to pay Rs90 million in outstanding dues to the department on account of the property tax.

He added, “We have recovered Rs5.3 million in taxes during the tenure of the previous government but a former director general of the department had promised them they will be exempted from it.”

According to Kalimullah, market owners are using that promise for not paying their tax. “We have warned them after sealing the shops that we would immediately register an FIR against those who tried to break the seals,” he said.

According to Kalimullah, Makah Market, Pirano Market, Palace Market, Royal SS Market, Parang Market and Madina Plaza were among the main markets which the department’s staff sealed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd,  2016.