Rawalpindi range split to raise property tax target

The Department of Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control has divided the Rawalpindi range into five different zones to increase the property tax target in the current fiscal year. A separate in-charge has been appointed for each zone.

There were four zones in the Rawalpindi range. However, according to the new decision, a new zone five has been created comprising all the VVIP and posh areas of the garrison city.

Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Malik Amjad will be the senior officer in-charge of the new zone five.

Previously, these posh areas were under the control of ETO Nazia and had the highest property tax collection rate. However, all the above-mentioned areas were taken back from her and she has been made in-charge of Morgah, Kotha Kalan zone.

After the formation of the new zone, the heads of the five zones have also assumed formal responsibilities and red notices have also been issued to all taxpayers who have not submitted property tax, luxury tax and commercial tax of the five zones.

All taxpayers have been instructed to deposit the outstanding property tax, commercial tax and luxury tax by December 31 and a warning has been issued to those who do not deposit the tax by the said date by the beginning of the next year, failing which a major crackdown will be launched from January.

During the crackdown, the defaulters' properties will be auctioned and arrests will also be made. A verification process has also been started for all the taxpayers to receive the ongoing notices.

Meanwhile, the Motor Branch of the Excise Department is facing a total shortfall of Rs80 million in the first six months of the current financial year from July 1 to December 31, 2022, due to poor performance. The main reason for this is attributed to the biometric system, which has now been suspended for two months.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2022.