RCB, CCB speed recovery drive to meet revenue targets

Issue notices to defaulters to clear dues by June 25

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi and the Chaklala cantonment boards have missed their revenue targets for the fiscal year 2018-19. The boards could not collect more than 60 per cent under any head including property tax, water tax and other fees.

As a result, the boards have issued notices to all defaulters to clear their dues by June 25. As an incentive, they have offered a 10 per cent discount.

The board has warned that they will launch a massive crackdown against defaulters from the new financial year. Property tax defaulters could see their properties sealed while connections of water tax defaulters could be cut. Moreover, heavy fines will be imposed on defaulters.

At the moment, proceedings against defaulters have been halted but cases would be sent to the cantonment magistrate to decide them.

RDA financial crisis

In a bid to arrest the financial crisis in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), the authority has decided to retrieve its Rs806 million from the Punjab education department and Rs400 million from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Moreover, it has decided to take possession of the 400 shops built on its land by the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC).

RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi, who confirmed the development, said that the education department owns schools and colleges which have been built on RDA land. To retrieve the money for these lands, they were drafting a letter.

Further, he said that the FBR had mistakenly cut an additional Rs400 million. To recover this amount, initial dialogues have been held with revenue officials.

Moreover, he said that the town municipal administration had built 400 shops on their land and was receiving rent from them. But now, Abbasi said, they will take over these stores and receive their rent.

Empty RDA seats

The Punjab government has okayed a move to hire people on the 150 vacant seats in RDA.

The recruitment process against these posts is expected to commence at the start of the new fiscal year.

Abbasi said that these vacant posts were affecting the performance of the authority. He added that these posts will be filled on merit.

He further said that most of the vacant slots were for technical people.

Feasibility reports

The federal government has asked the RDA to provide feasibility reports for the three major projects earmarked for the city.

These projects include the Ghazi-Barotha water supply scheme, the Ammar Chowk expansion, and two underpasses to be built in Shah Faisal Colony and Gulzar-e-Quaid along the old Islamabad airport road.

Work on the projects is expected to commence from the next fiscal year with the federal government to fund them.

In this regards, talks between Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Naeemul Haq and RDA Chairman Abbasi have concluded successfully. It is expected the Abbasi will meet with PM Imran Khan next week to brief him about the projects to seek final approval.

Pindi-Kahuta road project scrapped

The government has decided to scrap the Rs17.3 billion project to build a 28-kilometre road from Rawalpindi to Kahuta.

The project had been approved and its foundation stone had been laid by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for his constituency in NA-57 before his term ended last year. The projects were supposed to be completed in 14 months by April 2019.

Other projects initiated by the former premier which have been scrapped include the six-kilometre-long Sihala Overhead Bridge and the nine-kilometre long Kahuta By-pass.

The government had also allocated Rs5 billion to kick-start work on the projects.

Further, the government has shelved the Kotli Sattiyan Double Way and Rawat Expressway projects.

The contractor had set up crush plants for these projects worth Rs100 million. But the plant and other heavy machinery have been lying idle for the past 15 months.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2019.