Government may enhance fees, taxes in Pindi division

Officials say objections from district committees have been sought

RAWALPINDI: As the provincial government looks to implement the new local government regime in the garrison city, officials have suggested that the cash-strapped government could add to the burden of the public by enhancing a host of local charges, fees and taxes.

Some of the charges are expected to go up by as much as five times.

Moreover, the Pakistan Tehreek –i-Insaf (PTI) led government in Punjab plans to bring a few services in the tax net which were earlier regarded as free.

Officials with knowledge of a revised fee-structure, which is due to be enforced in the Rawalpindi Division by the end of March, said that the fees for getting a Nikkahnama (marriage certificate) registered with a Nikkah registrar are expected to be increased from Rs1,000 to Rs5,000.

A computerised copy of a nikkahnama (which is necessary for further processing of identity documents) will now cost an estimated Rs600 instead of Rs100. Moreover, Rs400 are expected to be charged for a written one instead of Rs100 previously.

The charges for a copy of a building construction map, which was earlier set at Rs100 per page, is expected to be enhanced to Rs500 per page.

The charges for a new commercial water connection by municipal committees and town committees are expected to be revised upwards from Rs100 to Rs400 whereas residential consumers will be charged Rs600 instead of Rs200. The charges for a water connection for industrial purposes are expected to nearly triple to Rs2,000 from Rs750.

Public toilet charges are expected to go up from Rs10 to Rs15, while the fees for obtaining a non-objection certificate (NOC) for a service station is expected to be fixed at Rs50,000.

On the taxation side, schools in the district are expected to pay a cleanliness tax worth around Rs3,000. Shops, restaurants, and plazas, however, will pay Rs1,000 as a tax.

If the pilot proves to be a success in Rawalpindi division, the regime is expected to be expanded across the province by the end of June.

Meanwhile, the government has asked the public to list their objections and complaints regarding the imposition of new taxes and fees.

Public complaints in this regard will be heard on March 19 and, after completing any necessary adjustment, they will be enforced by March 24.

Moreover, the municipal committees of Chakwal district have been asked to provide their feedback on the on new taxes. The municipal committees of Rawalpindi, Attock, and Jhelum are expected to be asked for their objections next month.

RCB suspends two revenue officers

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) ordered on Sunday to suspend a Revenue Superintendent and an Assistant Superintendent for failing to meet their revenue collection targets.

A notification, signed by RCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibtain Raza, said that Revenue Superintendent Malik Naeem Iqbal and Revenue Assistant Superintendent Yaseen Tahir have been suspended.

The suspension orders were issued after The RCB Additional CEO-I Faheem Ali had chaired a meeting on Sunday which Tahir failed to attend.

The official imposed fine on the absence of the official from the meeting and sought a reply from him on the matter.

Meanwhile, Water Recovery Cell In-Charge Qaiser Abbas Naqvi has been appointed as the property tax and water recovery in-charge.

Further, the additional CEO issued a warning to all revenue recovery branches to ensure full recoveries.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2020.