Business community urges govt to cut property tax

MCCI official says govt should devise strategy to address issue

MULTAN: The business community of South Punjab has urged upon the government and Excise & Taxation department to cut the property tax and its downward revision, claiming that the existing rates are hindering business growth.

Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi reiterated his demand after it received complaints from its members against increase in property tax across Punjab.



“The industry located in rural areas was served tax notices by the Municipal Corporation, district council, municipal committee of Shujabad and Jalalpur Pirwala, Muzaffrargarh, Layahh and Dera Ghazi Khan.” He added, “The area where the industry is situated is considered an industrial area even if it is a rural area. It must not be treated as in urban area.”

“Such actions are bound to cause irreparable damage to the socio-economic structure which would ultimately hit the present regime,” he said.



MCCI proposed that local councils should avoid taxation on the industry, who were already paying taxes to provincial as well as federal governments.

He maintained that Punjab government should come up with a formula about the maximum and minimum percentage of one’s income and what the person or people should expect in return. Roomi pointed out the government should initiate public-private dialogue to resolve the issues of the business community.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2017.