To tax or not to tax: Row between officials, elected representatives mars RCB working
Elected reps claim board is not allowing them to formulate policy, board denies.
Elected reps claim board is not allowing them to formulate policy, board denies. PHOTO: EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
Tensions between local bodies representatives of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) areas and the board’s administration continued as the elected members did not attend a Monday meeting of tax assessment committee.
The Express Tribune has learnt that 12 elected members under the supervision of RCB Vice-President Raja Muhammad Jahandad boycotted the meeting following what they called “the unacceptable” attitude of some officials.
Strained relations between the elected representatives and the administration have been affected routine business at the municipal board.
Discussions with RCB officials and elected representatives have revealed that tax collection had become a problem for the board, which has to collect over Rs500 million in taxes. The RCB has also been facing financial problems for a while due to the gap between revenue generation and expenditure.
An elected general councillor in the RCB told The Express Tribune that VP Raja Jahandad had a heated exchange with a senior board official over the imposition of taxes on a school building near Westridge, adding that the exchange led to the boycott.
The councillor added that the elected representatives were also displeased over the level of influence the RCB administration had in tax assessment decisions. He said that under cantonment laws, an elected member was chairman of all tax assessment committee and the elected chairman would have final say on tax rates.
He noted that in RCB, different officials were interfering in tax assessment decisions. He disclosed that director general of Military Lands and Cantonments had issued a direction saying that officials of RCB would also have say in making decision on the tax assessment.
The councillor said that the situation in Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) was different as elected representatives had the power to make the final decision on tax assessments.
Another general councillor said that the elected representative had approached PML-N MNA Malik Abrar Ahmad to improve their relationship with the RCB administration.
RCB Spokesperson Qaisar Mahmood said that there was no tension between board officials and elected members.
About the boycott, the spokesperson said that the members had made complaints about public issues. He noted that the RCB authorities were ever ready to address concerns of the elected representatives and the general public.
On the involvement of RCB officials in tax assessment, Qaisar said that under the law, the presence of board officials was required at the meeting to keep the records and update information. He added that it was very clear that all decisions regarding tax assessment were to be made by elected representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2016.
Tensions between local bodies representatives of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) areas and the board’s administration continued as the elected members did not attend a Monday meeting of tax assessment committee.
The Express Tribune has learnt that 12 elected members under the supervision of RCB Vice-President Raja Muhammad Jahandad boycotted the meeting following what they called “the unacceptable” attitude of some officials.
Strained relations between the elected representatives and the administration have been affected routine business at the municipal board.
Discussions with RCB officials and elected representatives have revealed that tax collection had become a problem for the board, which has to collect over Rs500 million in taxes. The RCB has also been facing financial problems for a while due to the gap between revenue generation and expenditure.
An elected general councillor in the RCB told The Express Tribune that VP Raja Jahandad had a heated exchange with a senior board official over the imposition of taxes on a school building near Westridge, adding that the exchange led to the boycott.
The councillor added that the elected representatives were also displeased over the level of influence the RCB administration had in tax assessment decisions. He said that under cantonment laws, an elected member was chairman of all tax assessment committee and the elected chairman would have final say on tax rates.
He noted that in RCB, different officials were interfering in tax assessment decisions. He disclosed that director general of Military Lands and Cantonments had issued a direction saying that officials of RCB would also have say in making decision on the tax assessment.
The councillor said that the situation in Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) was different as elected representatives had the power to make the final decision on tax assessments.
Another general councillor said that the elected representative had approached PML-N MNA Malik Abrar Ahmad to improve their relationship with the RCB administration.
RCB Spokesperson Qaisar Mahmood said that there was no tension between board officials and elected members.
About the boycott, the spokesperson said that the members had made complaints about public issues. He noted that the RCB authorities were ever ready to address concerns of the elected representatives and the general public.
On the involvement of RCB officials in tax assessment, Qaisar said that under the law, the presence of board officials was required at the meeting to keep the records and update information. He added that it was very clear that all decisions regarding tax assessment were to be made by elected representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2016.