RCB shuffles officials for missing tax targets

News sector heads tasked to make recovery after drastic revenue shortfall

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) after failing to achieve the target of collecting property tax during the outgoing fiscal year, ending on June 30, has tasked the three revenue superintendents to achieve the shortfall.

The RCB had set the target of Rs958.143 million in property tax for the year 2021-22, however, only Rs846 million in property tax could be recovered till June 30 with a shortfall of 112.11 million against the set target.

The shortfall of about 112.11 million against the target set by director MLC has raised many questions about the performance of the tax recovery department. The RCB had recovered property tax of Rs83.31 million last year and with a 15 per cent increase in tax recovery target as compared to the last year, Rs958.143 million was to be recovered this year.

RCB Executive Officer Imran Gulzar has deputed three assistant superintendents in the revenue department to collect the tax targets.

Assistant Revenue Superintendents Waheed Qamar will be in charge of Sector 1.1A.1B and Ward No. 3 as sector head. Aasim Khan ARS will be in charge of Sector 2.3.4.4A Ward No. 4.5.6.7.8 as sector head. ARS sector head Anayatullah Khan will be in charge of ward number 1.2.9.10. The new sector heads will be responsible to meet the shortfall of revenue recovery and also to recover the arrears.

The property tax recovery from Saddar Bazaar, the main centre for tax collection, was set at Rs397.52 million and Rs345.676 million, however, the tax department was able to recover only Rs370 million till June 30 with a shortfall of 27.27 million.

Sources claimed that sector heads of the property tax department of the RCB have been appointed on favouritism and many seniors have been sidelined. The sources also raised questions regarding the appointment of staff in key positions in the RCB.

Earlier, the RCB had drastically increased property tax and development charges under Section 25 of the Cantonment Act without taking the elected representative on board.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2022.