The Tehsil Municipal Authority (TMA) has sealed the whole parasailing point at Khanpur dam over non-payment of the fee by different service operators including boat-riders.
The TMA Khanpur has imposed a municipal fee on water sports at the Khanpur dam. The TMA sealed the picnic spot and the parasailing after the operators failed to pay the municipal fee.
The local boat operators and stall holders claimed that some people impersonating TMA officials collect tax from them and issue them receipts. They said that the TMA instead of taking action against the fake officials sealed the whole paragliding point, depriving hundreds of people of their livelihood.
The local operators said that a similar episode emerged in the past as well and they had to go to court with receipts after the TMA officials allegedly harassed them. The local operators said that the case was still pending in the court after the TMA declared the receipts fake.
The operators said that the TMA has turned a blind eye to the fake officials who collect the sum in the name of the TMA. They asked why TMA was not taking action against these people?
They said that the TMA Khanpur was not authorized to collect the fee including the parking charges as, according to them, the area was owned by the Wapda and PWD. They said that due to the connivance of the TMA and police, illegal parking fee was being collected and illegal tax has been taken from people for bathing.
The boat owners said that they have licences and government departments have all the records. They said that they were being harassed by the TMA officials despite the payment of taxes. They said that the TMA was creating unnecessary hurdles, depriving thousands of people of their livelihood.
They said that summer was the season when tourists from all over the country visit the area and the local businesses boom as a result.
They said that "they pay taxes to the TMA. Whether or not, the receipts are real or fake, it is none of our business".
They said: "Those who are involved in this scam should be taken to task and the local administration and the TMA stopped teasing and harassing them.”
Boating and Traders’ President Raja Hanif said that “We are fully cooperating with the district administration and the police but for unknown reasons, we are being harassed under one or the other pretext and their employment places are being sealed after imposing heavy fines on us.”
“We are not responsible if someone is indulged illegality under the patronage of someone. It is the responsibility of the district administration to find out who gives permission for illegality?
He further said that Khanpur pam provided entertainment to millions of tourists every year.
He said that hundreds of families were doing businesses there to earn their bread and butter. “We have raised our voice against illegal fines and closure of businesses in the past and will raise again.”
He said that they were paying all kinds of taxes regularly even though the place belonged to the federal government, WAPDA and other departments. “Several cases were pending in various courts in this respect. We fully co-operate with the district administration and we request the TMA should not harass us by imposing heavy fines and taxes and closure of the picnic spot? He said that they should not be forced to take to the streets in protest.
Tourists including Pir Ataullah Shah Nasir Khan Zia Islam Hafiz Wajid Ali and others said that tourists on the banks of Khanpur Dam were looted with both hands. They said that fritters were being sold for Rs500 per kg. They said that a higher fee was also being charged in the name of parking.
They said that the district administration should declare tourism along the Khanpur Dam a tax-free zone.
Meanwhile, Khanpur Tehsil Chairman Raja Haroon Sikandar while talking to a delegation of Khanpur Boating Association and TMA officials said that the TMA management should not harass operators and local traders. He directed the Tehsil Municipal Officer to take steps to resolve all legitimate issues in consultation with the Khanpur Boating Association.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2022.
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